noun
Common
sin
SIHN
Sin (noun) means In religious terms, an act that breaks a moral or divine law. Example: “In many faiths, lying is considered a sin.”
noun
1
In religious terms, an act that breaks a moral or divine law.
"In many faiths, lying is considered a sin."
"He confessed his sins to the priest."
"The preacher spoke about pride as the sin that leads to all others."
2
Informally, any wrongdoing, shameful act, or serious flaw.
"Wasting good food is practically a sin in her house."
"It's a sin to leave such a lovely garden to go wild."
"Putting pineapple on a pizza is a sin, according to my dad."
verb
1
To commit a sin; to act against moral or religious law.
"The character believes he has sinned beyond forgiveness."
"In the story, the villagers believed that anyone who sinned would be punished."
"He prayed for forgiveness because he felt he had sinned against his friend."
How to use sin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA wrongful act, especially one that breaks a moral or religious rule.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
commit a sin
a mortal sin
a sin against
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Word forms
- Plural
- sins
- Third person singular
- sins
- Past tense
- sinned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
In many faiths, lying is considered a _____.
Etymology
From Old English synn ("sin, guilt"), traced back to a Germanic root connected to words for "truth" and "guilt" — likely originally meaning something like "being truly guilty" of a charge.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “sin” mean?
The word “sin” means in religious terms, an act that breaks a moral or divine law. In plain terms, a wrongful act, especially one that breaks a moral or religious rule.
How do you pronounce “sin”?
“Sin” is pronounced SIHN (/ˈsɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “sin” in a sentence?
Here is “sin” used in a sentence: “In many faiths, lying is considered a sin.”
What part of speech is “sin”?
Depending on how it is used, “sin” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “sin” come from?
The word “sin” comes from Old English. From Old English synn ("sin, guilt"), traced back to a Germanic root connected to words for "truth" and "guilt" — likely originally meaning something like "being truly guilty" of a charge.
Is “sin” a common word?
“Sin” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “sin” have?
“Sin” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in religious terms, an act that breaks a moral or divine law.
What is the difference between a sin and a crime?
A sin is an act that breaks a moral or divine law and is judged in religious or ethical terms. A crime is an act that breaks the law of a country or state and can be punished by its legal system, so an act can be a sin, a crime, both, or neither.
What is the difference between 'sin' and 'vice'?
A sin is a specific act that breaks a moral or divine law, while a vice is a habitual bad behaviour or moral weakness. In short, a sin is usually a single wrongful act, whereas a vice is an ongoing fault or bad habit.
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