sinner
UK: ˈsɪnə | US: ˈsɪnər
n. a person who commits a sin or violates moral or religious law
n. (figurative) someone who habitually does wrong or unethical things
sinner = sin<moral transgression> + er<agent noun suffix>
- sin: From Old English synn, meaning "moral wrongdoing, offense against God." Rooted in Proto-Germanic sundī, related to guilt or blame.
- er: A suffix forming agent nouns (e.g., "teacher," "runner"), indicating "one who does [the root action]."
Etymology Origin:
The word "sinner" emerged in Old English as synnere, combining synn (sin) with the agent suffix -ere. It reflects a straightforward Germanic construction to denote "one who sins." The concept of sin itself traces back to early Christian and pre-Christian moral frameworks, where it encapsulated both religious and societal taboos. Over time, "sinner" retained its core meaning while expanding metaphorically to describe habitual wrongdoers beyond theological contexts.
The preacher urged sinners to repent and seek forgiveness.
She jokingly called herself a chocolate sinner after eating the entire cake.
In the story, the reformed sinner became a beacon of hope for others.
The film portrayed the criminal as a complex sinner, not purely evil.
Ancient texts often describe humanity as inherently flawed sinners.