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More on the Meaning of Sin
The word sin has been in use for well over a thousand years. Our current form of the word comes from the Middle English sinne, which is itself from the Old English syn. The original meanings of sin were largely concerned with religious matters ("an offense against religious or moral law"; "a transgression of the law of God"; "a vitiated state of human nature in which the self is estranged from God"), as they still are today.
Sin does, however, have weakened, non-religious meanings. In its "an action that is or is felt to be highly reprehensible" meaning it is still a weighty word; it refers to actions of a kind that are likely to be strongly condemned. Far weaker is its "an often serious shortcoming" meaning, which can jokingly apply to a harmless act like eating one dessert too many, or can be paired with another word to refer to a failing of one kind or another, as in "literary/grammatical sins."
The word sinful, although it is most often found used in reference to behavior that is in some way wicked, may also be found denoting activities which are quite enjoyable (although still possibly guilt-inducing), such as eating "a sinful dessert."
Sin is also used in a fair number of compound nouns, some of which allow shades of sinfulness: a venial sin is much less serious than a mortal sin.
If you find yourself in need of a word with which to describe behavior or inclinations that are in some way questionable, but feel that sin is too strong a word, the English language has a wealth of options available. The Latin word peccare (“to sin”) has given rise to a number of English words that deal with sin, but which have less fire and brimstone in their meanings. We have peccadillo (“a slight offense”), peccable (which may mean either “liable to sin” or “susceptible to temptation”), and peccant (“violating a principle or rule, as of taste or propriety”).
Synonyms
Examples of sin in a Sentence
Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2024
Instead of giving her space to search her soul and reflect on her sins, the fake priest kept steering the conversation to her job performance: asking if the server ever showed up late, stole from the restaurant or did anything to harm her employer.
—Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Lacking European sophistication, Allen still excuses infidelity as no big deal despite the fact that others hold it against you while indulging their own sins.
—Armond White, National Review, 5 Apr. 2024
The website explains the holy day marks Jesus' victory over sin and death, as well as points ahead to a future resurrection for anyone who is united to Jesus by their faith (Romans 6:5).
—Marina Johnson, The Indianapolis Star, 30 Mar. 2024
In Wingard’s hands, neither beast carries the burden of being a metaphor for humanity’s sins.
—Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the wiping away of sin.
—USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2024
The holy day recognizes when Jesus Christ was crucified and died on the cross at Calvary as the ultimate sacrifice for people's sins, according to christianity.com.
—Jason Rossi, The Enquirer, 29 Mar. 2024
The holy day recognizes when Jesus Christ was crucified and died on the cross at Calvary as the ultimate sacrifice for people's sins (1 John 1:10).
—Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 29 Mar. 2024
Nick Hall, Fox News, 28 Mar. 2024
So also consider yourselves dead to sin, and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord.
—Jorie Nicole McDonald, Southern Living, 31 Jan. 2024
Gregory of Nyssa, contemplating the Christian horror of concupiscence, once theorized that had not Adam and Eve sinned, the two of them would have remained virgins and reproduced in whatever way angels did.
—David Harsanyi, National Review, 8 June 2023
An unknown individual or individuals entered a retail business sin the 2200 block of Willow Road, took food and household items and left the store without paying April 3.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 10 Apr. 2023
To, in other words, grievously sin.
—Alex Morris, Rolling Stone, 18 June 2022
Yet it could be argued that Abraham, by acting to improve his situation, did not sin.
—Rabbi Avi Weiss, sun-sentinel.com, 4 Oct. 2021
The writer framed one of the most famous incidents in his epic poem—the tragic story of real-life lovers Paolo Malatesta and Francesca da Polenta—as a cautionary tale against succumbing to sin.
—John-Paul Heil, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Nov. 2021
In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
—Karla Pope, Good Housekeeping, 21 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Sin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sin. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sin
1 of 2 nounsin
2 of 2 verb
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