Word
confessional
Phoneticscon·fes·sion·al, stress on the second syllable
US/kənˈfɛʃənəɫ/
UK/kənfˈɛʃənəl/
Definitions
01church booth
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Religion
n. a small, private room or booth in a church where a person tells their sins to a priest.
n. a small, enclosed stall or room in a church where a priest hears the confessions of penitents.
“The man knelt inside the wooden confessional and waited for the priest to speak.”
“The cathedral's ornate confessionals were carved from dark oak, providing a somber and private space for the Sacrament of Penance.”
Usage
Usually refers to the physical structure within a Catholic or Anglican church.
Synonyms
02reality TV interview
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal
n. a short interview in a reality TV show where a person talks directly to the camera about their feelings.
n. a filmed segment in reality television where a participant speaks directly to the camera to provide commentary or reveal private thoughts.
“In her confessional, the contestant admitted she didn't actually like her teammates.”
“Producers often use the confessional to highlight contradictions between a participant's public actions and their private motivations.”
Synonyms
03revealing private thoughts
C1 · Advanced Academic · Literary
adj. telling private information or secrets about yourself in a very honest way.
adj. relating to or characteristic of a confession, especially in literature or art that reveals private or painful personal details.
“The singer's new album is very confessional, with lyrics about her difficult childhood.”
“The poet is often credited with pioneering a confessional style that stripped away metaphors to address trauma with startling directness.”
04religious affiliation
C2 · Proficiency Religion Formal · Technical
adj. relating to a specific set of religious beliefs or a formal statement of faith.
adj. of or relating to a formal statement of religious doctrinal belief or a group defined by such a belief.
“The country has several confessional schools that focus on specific religious teachings.”
“The peace treaty established a confessional system of government, distributing political power among the nation's primary religious sects.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Rodrigo’s songs, mostly co-written with longtime collaborator Dan Nigro, repeatedly make the same sharp turns, moving from confessional balladry to pop-punk abrasion, saccharine sweetness to venom, the tear-stained bedroom to the slammed door.” “Next, the band jumped aboard that summer’s Warped tour and discovered that, in their absence, Pinkerton had found an audience that treasured its confessional intensity.” Etymology
From confession + -al.
From French confessionnal.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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