penance
PEN-unss
/ˈpenəns/
Voluntary self-punishment inflicted as an outward expression of repentance for having done wrong.
It is not just 'punishment' from others, but something one chooses to do to 'make things right' with their conscience or god.
The story behind the word. Related to 'pain' and 'penalty', 'penance' comes from the Latin root for regret. In the early church, penance was a public act that could last for years before a person was allowed back into the community.
Word relationships
- atonement: Atonement is the act of making amends; penance is the specific hardship or task performed to achieve that atonement.
- repentance: Repentance is the feeling of regret; penance is the action taken because of that feeling.
- defiance: Defiance is refusing to admit wrong, the opposite of seeking penance.
Commonly confused with
- punishment: Punishment is usually imposed by an authority; penance is often self-imposed or accepted voluntarily.
Word family
- penitent (adjective): Feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong.
Collocations
- do penance
- perform penance
- act of penance
Example sentences
- "As a penance for his outburst, he spent the weekend cleaning the entire house." Describing a difficult task done for regret.
- "The priest assigned him a series of prayers to perform as penance." Religious context.
Memory hook
You pay a 'Pen'-alty to clear your 'Conscience' = 'Pen-ance'. Action to show regret.
When not to use
Don't use for legal punishments like jail time; penance is a moral or spiritual act.
Fun facts
- In the Middle Ages, some people would pay 'flagellants' to perform penance on their behalf, though this was often discouraged by the church.
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.