Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small enclosed booth or cabinet in a church where a priest sits to hear confessions from penitents: It is a private space designed for the sacrament of confession in some Christian traditions, particularly Roman Catholicism.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The priest waited in the confessional for the next parishioner.
  • She entered the dark, quiet confessional to seek forgiveness.

Advanced Usage

• "The confessional" (as a concept): Can refer to the practice or institution of confession itself, especially in a literary or historical context.
  • The novel explores the secrets revealed within the secrecy of the confessional.
• "Confessional writing/poetry": A genre of literature or art characterized by the frank and intimate revelation of private, often painful, details from the author's life. (Note: This is a distinct, derived meaning where "confessional" functions as an adjective, not the target noun).
  • Her work is often cited as a prime example of confessional poetry.

Variants and Related Words

• Confession (n): The act of admitting one's sins to a priest or the disclosure of something private.
• Confess (v): To admit or acknowledge something, especially a fault or sin.

Synonyms

• Confession booth
• Penitential booth

Idioms and Phrases

• (To be) in the confessional: Used figuratively to describe a situation where someone is revealing private or secret information.
  • During the interview, the celebrity was practically in the confessional, sharing details of her early struggles.

Noun

1. a booth where a priest sits to hear confessions