Confession \Con*fes"sion\, n. [F. confession, L. confessio.]

1. Acknowledgment; avowal, especially in a matter pertaining to one's self; the admission of a debt, obligation, or crime.

With a crafty madness keeps aloof, When we would bring him on to some confession Of his true state. --Shak.

2. Acknowledgment of belief; profession of one's faith.

With the mouth confession is made unto salvation. --Rom. x. 10.

3. (Eccl.) The act of disclosing sins or faults to a priest in order to obtain sacramental absolution.

Auricular confession . . . or the private and special confession of sins to a priest for the purpose of obtaining his absolution. --Hallam.

4. A formulary 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.

5. (Law) An admission by a party to whom an act is imputed, in relation to such act. A judicial confession settles the issue to which it applies; an extrajudical confession may be explained or rebutted. --Wharton.

Confession and avoidance (Law), a mode of pleading in which the party confesses the facts as stated by his adversary, but alleges some new matter by way of avoiding the legal effect claimed for them. --Mozley & W.

Confession of faith, a formulary containing the articles of faith; a creed.

General confession, the confession of sins made by a number of persons in common, as in public prayer.

Westminster Confession. See Westminster Assembly, under Assembly.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)