penance
1 of 2noun
pen·ance ˈpe-nən(t)s 
1
: an act of self-abasement, mortification (see mortification sense 3), or devotion performed to show sorrow or repentance for sin
He did charitable work as a penance.
2
: a sacramental rite that is practiced in Roman, Eastern, and some Anglican churches and that consists of private confession, absolution, and a penance directed by the confessor (see confessor sense 3a)
3
: something (such as a hardship or penalty) resembling an act of penance (as in compensating for an offense)
who go on cheap camping trips instead of real vacations as a kind of penance
Judith Thurman
Judith Thurmanpenance
2 of 2verb
penanced; penancing
transitive verb
: to impose penance on
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How Should You Use penance?
Penance as a form of apology for a mistake can be either voluntary or ordered by someone else. Many religions include penance among the ways in which believers can show repentance or regret for a misdeed. The Christian season of Lent, 40 days long, is traditionally a time for doing penance.
Example Sentences
Noun He did charitable work as a penance.
Recent Examples on the Web The Salt Lake Tribune, 28 Aug. 2022 Birgitte’s exit from Denmark thus portends her obsolescence, and reads as a strange sort of penance for her moral failings this season. Kylie Warner, The New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2022 His penance now paid in full, Pedro Severino was able to put a Milwaukee Brewers uniform back on Sunday morning for the first time since spring training. Todd Rosiak, Journal Sentinel, 3 July 2022 Wasn't there some penance to be done in representing the little guy? Dan Snierson, EW.com, 19 July 2022 Here’s a look at Lent, a season of prayer and penance for many Christians, and a period of preparation for the Easter season. CNN, 18 Apr. 2022 Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40-day Lenten season where Christians around the world observe a period of reflection, prayer and penance. Emily Deletter, The Enquirer, 2 Mar. 2022 As climate collapse looms, bicycles have taken on a saintly quality, extolled as squeaky-clean instruments of penance for wealthy countries’ carbon emissions. Zoë Beery, The Atlantic, 31 May 2022 There was a time when public sinners were required to do such penance, only to be readmitted to the community at Easter. The Salt Lake Tribune, 1 Feb. 2022 Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 17 Aug. 2022 That’s where dynasty can be its most troubling: the inevitable comparisons to the forefathers and often penance for their political crimes. Philip Elliott, Time, 11 Aug. 2021 See More
Noun
Many Catholic schools have behavioral requirements for their employees, but none would ever, could ever, use any part of the sacrament of penance — including confession — to evaluate an employee in any way. The Salt Lake Tribune, 28 Aug. 2022 Birgitte’s exit from Denmark thus portends her obsolescence, and reads as a strange sort of penance for her moral failings this season. Kylie Warner, The New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2022 His penance now paid in full, Pedro Severino was able to put a Milwaukee Brewers uniform back on Sunday morning for the first time since spring training. Todd Rosiak, Journal Sentinel, 3 July 2022 Wasn't there some penance to be done in representing the little guy? Dan Snierson, EW.com, 19 July 2022 Here’s a look at Lent, a season of prayer and penance for many Christians, and a period of preparation for the Easter season. CNN, 18 Apr. 2022 Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the 40-day Lenten season where Christians around the world observe a period of reflection, prayer and penance. Emily Deletter, The Enquirer, 2 Mar. 2022 As climate collapse looms, bicycles have taken on a saintly quality, extolled as squeaky-clean instruments of penance for wealthy countries’ carbon emissions. Zoë Beery, The Atlantic, 31 May 2022 There was a time when public sinners were required to do such penance, only to be readmitted to the community at Easter. The Salt Lake Tribune, 1 Feb. 2022 Verb
Volkswagen was in the game early, funding Electrify America as part of it penance for deceiving regulators about diesel emissions. Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 17 Aug. 2022 That’s where dynasty can be its most troubling: the inevitable comparisons to the forefathers and often penance for their political crimes. Philip Elliott, Time, 11 Aug. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin poenitentia penitence
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1580, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
penance
noun
pen·ance ˈpe-nəns
: an act showing sorrow or regret for sin