penitent
Penitent (adj) means feeling genuine sorrow or guilt for having done wrong. Example: “The penitent teenager admitted to breaking curfew and apologized to his parents.”
How to use penitent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSorry in a deep, sincere way for something you did wrong.
Word forms
more penitent comparative, penitents plural, most penitent superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ teenager admitted to breaking curfew and apologized to his parents.
Etymology
From Old French penitent, from Latin paenitēns, present participle of paenitēre, "to repent."
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “penitent” mean?
The word “penitent” means feeling genuine sorrow or guilt for having done wrong. In plain terms, sorry in a deep, sincere way for something you did wrong.
How do you pronounce “penitent”?
“Penitent” is pronounced PEH-nih-tuhnt (/ˈpɛnɪtənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “penitent” in a sentence?
Here is “penitent” used in a sentence: “The penitent teenager admitted to breaking curfew and apologized to his parents.”
What part of speech is “penitent”?
Depending on how it is used, “penitent” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “penitent” come from?
The word “penitent” comes from Latin. From Old French penitent, from Latin paenitēns, present participle of paenitēre, "to repent.".
How many meanings does “penitent” have?
“Penitent” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: feeling genuine sorrow or guilt for having done wrong.