confessional

1 of 2

noun

con·​fes·​sion·​al kən-ˈfesh-nəl 

-ˈfe-shə-nᵊl

1

: a place where a priest hears confessions

2

: the practice of confessing to a priest

confessional

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or being a confession especially of faith

2

a

: intimately autobiographical

confessional fiction

b

: characterized by unguarded openness or self-revelation

We live in a confessional culture, provoked by social media and the internet and the warmth of the human impulse to share and … commiserate.

—Megan Garber

confessionalism

kən-ˈfesh-nə-ˌli-zəm 

-ˈfe-shə-nə-ˌli-

noun

confessionalist

kən-ˈfesh-nə-list 

-ˈfe-shə-nə-list

noun

confessionally

kən-ˈfesh-nə-lē 

-ˈfe-shə-nᵊl-

adverb

Examples of confessional in a Sentence

Adjective

confessional interviews of famous actors

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This upbeat perspective is somewhat of a 180 for the 24-year-old singer-songwriter, who has built her budding indie empire on sad-girl bedroom pop and acoustic confessionals. —Allaire Nuss, EW.com, 29 May 2024

Modern media meant to celebrate women’s friendships tends to characterize gal pals as bonding over cocktails and sharing late-night confessionals, but most actual human beings do not behave in such tidy and agreeable ways. —Amy Dickinson, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2024

Adjective

In a confessional, Kim notes that the family is well known for keeping secrets, asking how her mom could've let something like that slip. —Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 23 May 2024

In a confessional, Shannel doubled over with laughter when addressing the moment. —EW.com, 17 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably borrowed from French confessional (short for chaire confessionale, siège confessional, literally, "confessional seat"), noun derivative of confessional, adjective, "constituting or used for a confession," borrowed from Medieval Latin confessiōnālis, from Latin confessiōn-, confessiō confession + -ālis -al entry 1

Adjective

borrowed from Medieval Latin confessiōnālis "constituting or used for a confession" — more at confessional entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1727, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1684, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

confessional

noun

con·​fes·​sion·​al

kən-ˈfesh-(ə-)nəl

1

: the enclosed place in which a priest sits and hears confessions

2

: the practice of confessing to a priest