confessional

[ kuhn-fesh-uh-nl ]

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or based on confession:

   confessional release.

noun

1. the place set apart for the hearing of confessions by a priest.
2. French Furniture. a high, upholstered wing chair of the 18th century.

confessional

/ kənˈfɛʃənəl /

adjective

1. of, like, or suited to a confession

noun

1. Christianity RC Church a small stall, usually enclosed and divided by a screen or curtain, where a priest hears confessions
2. a book of penitential prayers

Other Words From

• pseudo·con·fession·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of confessional¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Medieval Latin confessiōnāle, neuter of confessiōnālis (adjective); confession, -al ¹; confessional defs 2, 3 from French, from Medieval Latin

Example Sentences

A few days after his YouTube confessional, he went into more detail on Instagram about the “manic” feelings he was struggling with.

From Los Angeles Times

With her charisma, humor, and entertaining confessionals, Nguyen brought a levity to the show that not all cheftestants manage to achieve.

From Salon

She is delightfully, profanely confessional, threading the needle between brutal honesty and self-indulgence.

From Los Angeles Times

Exuding a weary melancholy, the actor betrays an incongruous longing for the confessional, unflinchingly depicting the elderly Beckett stoically dragging his carcass to the finish line.

From Los Angeles Times

It is an interview off camera with a reporter where she is being confessional.

From Salon