# sinner

/ˈsɪnɝ/ (US) · /sˈɪnɐ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. religious/moral context

noun · CEFR B2

someone who breaks a religious law or does something that is considered morally wrong.

For teachers: an individual who transgresses against divine law or a code of religious ethics.

- In many religions, a sinner can find forgiveness if they are truly sorry for what they did.
- The preacher spoke at length about the path to redemption, arguing that even the most hardened sinner could find grace through sincere repentance.

### 2. general/figurative context

noun · CEFR B2 · Humorous · Informal

someone who does something bad or makes a mistake, even if it is not about religion.

For teachers: a person who violates a social or moral standard; often used figuratively to describe someone with negative qualities.

- I know I'm a sinner when it comes to eating too much chocolate on the weekend.
- While he was no saint in his business dealings, his competitors were equally guilty of being sinners in the pursuit of profit.

## Examples

- The preacher spoke about how every sinner can find forgiveness.
- In many traditional stories, the main character starts as a sinner but eventually changes their ways to help others.
- The novel explores the blurred lines between saint and sinner, suggesting that even the most virtuous individuals harbor secret flaws and past regrets.

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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.