# confessor

/kənfˈɛsɐ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/confessor
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

a person who tells their sins to a priest or a religious leader. This is usually part of a religious ceremony to help the person feel better about their mistakes.

For teachers: a person who makes a formal confession of sins to a priest or other religious authority. Often used in the context of Catholic or other Christian traditions.

## Examples

- The priest listened to the confessor's story.
- After years of silence, the former politician became a confessor for young people struggling with their own moral dilemmas.
- The role of the confessor is not merely to judge the penitent but to offer a path to reconciliation with the divine through the act of confession.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.