contrition
C1Formal, literary, religious
Definition
Meaning
Deep remorse and sorrow for having done wrong.
A state of penitent grief or regret, often with a religious or moral connotation, implying a genuine desire for atonement and a change in behaviour.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Stronger than mere 'regret' or 'apology'; implies a profound moral or spiritual sorrow for sin or guilt. Often associated with confession and the desire for forgiveness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition or usage. The word is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally strong religious/moral connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in religious or formal written contexts in both regions. Overall low frequency in everyday speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
feel ~ for sthexpress ~ for sthshow ~ for sthbe full of ~do sth with ~in ~Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[be/act] sackcloth and ashes (related concept of showing contrition)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used in extreme cases of corporate malfeasance: 'The CEO's public contrition did little to restore investor confidence.'
Academic
Used in theological, philosophical, psychological, or literary studies discussing morality, guilt, and forgiveness.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. Used in formal apologies or discussions of serious wrongdoing.
Technical
Primarily a theological/religious term, specifically in contexts of confession and sacraments.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A – The verb form is 'contrite', which is an adjective. No direct verb form.
American English
- N/A – The verb form is 'contrite', which is an adjective. No direct verb form.
adverb
British English
- He apologised contritely for his oversight.
- She nodded contritely, admitting her fault.
American English
- He spoke contritely about his past actions.
- She contritely accepted the criticism.
adjective
British English
- He seemed genuinely contrite after the argument.
- Her contrite letter was accepted by the committee.
American English
- The defendant appeared contrite during sentencing.
- She offered a contrite apology for her mistake.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He said sorry. He felt bad.
- After he broke the window, he showed he was very sorry.
- The politician expressed deep regret for his past comments, hoping to move on.
- The judge noted the defendant's genuine contrition before passing a more lenient sentence.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of CONtrition as the CONsequence of a bad action that makes you feel terrible inside, leading to a heartfelt apology. CON-sequence + TRI-tion (sounds like 'tribulation' – a trouble you cause).
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTRITION IS A CLEANSING BURDEN (e.g., 'weighed down by contrition', 'a load of guilt', 'washing away sin').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'раскаяние' (which is a good match). Avoid the weaker 'сожаление' (regret) or the more legalistic 'вина' (guilt/blame). 'Угрызения совести' is a phrase, not a single-word equivalent.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a direct synonym for 'apology' (an apology is the expression; contrition is the feeling). Misspelling as 'contrition' (correct is 'contrition'). Using it in trivial contexts (e.g., 'I feel contrition for eating the last biscuit').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'contrition' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Saying sorry (apologising) is an action. Contrition is the deep feeling of remorse and sorrow that should motivate a sincere apology.
Yes, but it remains a formal and strong word. It is perfectly used in legal, professional, or serious personal contexts to describe profound remorse.
They are closely related. 'Contrition' emphasises the emotional state of sorrow and guilt. 'Repentance' includes contrition but goes further, implying a turning away from the wrong behaviour and a commitment to change.
No. The related adjective is 'contrite'. You would use phrases like 'feel contrition', 'show contrition', or 'be contrite'.
Collections
Part of a collection
Nuanced Emotions
C2 · 48 words · Precise vocabulary for complex emotional states.
Explore