penance
n. C / Un. an act you do to show you are sorry for doing something wrong. It is often a task or a prayer meant to make up for a mistake.
n. voluntary self-punishment or an act of devotion performed to express repentance for a sin or wrongdoing. Often associated with religious contexts, particularly the sacrament of reconciliation.
He cleaned the entire house as penance for his rudeness.
The priest suggested a week of community service as a form of penance for the young man's actions.
In many historical traditions, public penance was required to demonstrate a sincere change of heart and to restore the individual's standing within the community.
From Middle English penaunce, from Anglo-Norman, from Old French peneance, from Latin paenitentia (“repentance, penitence”). Doublet of penitence.
Uncountable when referring to the abstract concept of repentance; countable when referring to specific acts or tasks.