confessional

1 of 2

noun

con·​fes·​sion·​al kən-ˈfesh-nəl 

-ˈfe-shə-nᵊl

1

: a place where a priest hears confessions

2

: the practice of confessing to a priest

confessional

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or being a confession especially of faith

2

a

: intimately autobiographical

confessional fiction

b

: characterized by unguarded openness or self-revelation

We live in a confessional culture, provoked by social media and the internet and the warmth of the human impulse to share and … commiserate.

—Megan Garber

confessionalism

kən-ˈfesh-nə-ˌli-zəm 

-ˈfe-shə-nə-ˌli-

noun

confessionalist

kən-ˈfesh-nə-list 

-ˈfe-shə-nə-list

noun

confessionally

kən-ˈfesh-nə-lē 

-ˈfe-shə-nᵊl-

adverb

Examples of confessional in a Sentence

Adjective

confessional interviews of famous actors

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In a confessional, the mom of four reflects on getting to have quality time with her extended family. —Hannah Sacks, People.com, 27 Mar. 2025

But that doesn't mean oversharing or emotional confessionals. —Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025

Adjective

Neil Young has been churning out rock staples and confessional singer-songwriter fare for more than half a century. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025

For an artist whose work is deeply confessional, so much so that her listeners can at times feel like intruders eavesdropping on private conversations, Dacus is still getting used to the trappings of celebrity. —James Factora, Them, 24 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

probably borrowed from French confessional (short for chaire confessionale, siège confessional, literally, "confessional seat"), noun derivative of confessional, adjective, "constituting or used for a confession," borrowed from Medieval Latin confessiōnālis, from Latin confessiōn-, confessiō confession + -ālis -al entry 1

Adjective

borrowed from Medieval Latin confessiōnālis "constituting or used for a confession" — more at confessional entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1727, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1684, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for confessional

• compressional
• concessional
• congressional
• obsessional
• processional
• professional
• recessional
• successional
• interprofessional
• paraprofessional
• semiprofessional
• nonprofessional

Kids Definition

confessional

noun

con·​fes·​sion·​al

kən-ˈfesh-(ə-)nəl

1

: the enclosed place in which a priest sits and hears confessions

2

: the practice of confessing to a priest