confession

noun

1. 1

   The open admittance of having done something (especially something bad).

   “Without the real murderer's confession, an innocent person will go to jail.”

2. 2

   A formal document providing such an admission.

   “He forced me to sign a confession!”

3. 3

   The disclosure of one's sins to a priest for absolution. In the Roman Catholic Church, it is now termed the sacrament of reconciliation.

   “I went to confession and now I feel much better about what I had done.”

4. 4

   Acknowledgment of belief; profession of one's faith.

5. 5

   A formula in which the articles of faith are comprised; a creed to be assented to or signed, as a preliminary to admission to membership of a church; a confession of faith.