# confessional

/kənˈfɛʃənəɫ/ (US) · /kənfˈɛʃənəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/confessional
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. church booth

noun · CEFR B2

a small, private room or booth in a church where a person tells their sins to a priest.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. reality TV interview

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a short interview in a reality TV show where a person talks directly to the camera about their feelings.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. revealing private thoughts

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic · Literary

telling private information or secrets about yourself in a very honest way.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. religious affiliation

adjective · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

relating to a specific set of religious beliefs or a formal statement of faith.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The man knelt inside the confessional to speak with the priest.
- The old wooden confessional stood in the corner of the cathedral, its velvet curtain worn thin from years of use.
- Architectural historians note that the design of the confessional evolved to balance the need for acoustic privacy with the liturgical requirement for a physical barrier between the clergy and the laity.

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