# sin

/ˈsɪn/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sin
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. religious/moral wrong

noun · CEFR B1

an action that breaks a religious law or is considered very morally wrong.

For teachers: an offence against divine law or a violation of a moral principle.

- In many religions, lying is considered a serious sin.
- The theologian argued that the nature of sin lies not just in the action itself, but in the conscious intent to defy moral authority.

### 2. a mistake or shame

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a bad mistake or something that is a great pity.

For teachers: a regrettable action or a serious shortcoming in judgment or behavior.

- It is a sin to waste all that delicious food when people are hungry.
- The critic remarked that it was a sin to hide such a talented musician in a mediocre backing band.

### 3. sports penalty area

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · British English

a short name for the 'sin bin', where players must sit after breaking a rule.

For teachers: a colloquial shortening of 'sin bin', referring to the penalty box where players are temporarily sidelined.

- The captain spent ten minutes in the sin for a dangerous tackle.
- After a series of technical fouls, the referee sent the scrum-half to the sin to cool off for the remainder of the half.

### 4. to do something wrong

verb · CEFR B2

to do something that is against religious or moral laws.

For teachers: to commit an offence against a religious or moral code; used intransitively.

- He felt that he had sinned by not helping his friend in need.
- The protagonist spends the final chapters of the novel attempting to atone for having sinned against his family's trust.

Usage: This verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object.

## Examples

- Stealing is considered a sin in most religions.
- The priest spoke about the importance of asking for forgiveness after committing a sin.
- In many literary traditions, the protagonist's downfall is precipitated by a single secret sin that they spend the rest of the narrative attempting to expiate through suffering and service.

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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.