confessional

1 of 2

noun

con·​fes·​sion·​al kən-ˈfe-sh(ə-)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-ˈfe-sh(ə-)nə-ˌli-zəm 

noun

confessionalist

kən-ˈfe-sh(ə-)nə-list 

noun

confessionally

kən-ˈfe-sh(ə-)nə-lē 

adverb

Examples of confessional in a Sentence

Adjective

confessional interviews of famous actors

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Burdette — who became known for his hilarious confessionals — was also the subject of a meltdown by Liz Wilcox, who was devastated after losing a reward for Applebee's. —Christopher Rudolph, PEOPLE, 18 Dec. 2025

Although Jessi and Jen plant seeds in their confessionals for future beef with Demi. —Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 15 Nov. 2025

Adjective

Kate is rebelling against Petruchio’s efforts to control her, but her words also help explain confessional outbursts from women who’ve spent too long in relationships suppressing anger. —Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 16 Dec. 2025

It’s often thought of as Sondheim’s most confessional song, an ode to the thrill and the cost of creativity. —Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 15 Dec. 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