Definition and pronunciation
sinner — a person who commits a sin; more broadly, anyone judged to have done wrong by a moral, religious, or ethical code.
Pronunciation: /ˈsɪnər/.
Easy explanation
A sinner is someone seen as having done something morally wrong. In religion, it often means a person who breaks God’s rules. In everyday speech, it can be light or joking: “I’m a sinner for eating cake before dinner.”
Part of speech and grammar
- Countable noun: a sinner; two sinners.
- Related forms: sin (noun/verb), sinful (adjective), sinless (adjective), sinning (participle), saint (contrast).
- Fixed contrasts: sinner vs saint; repentant sinner.
Register and tone
Ranges from serious (religious texts, sermons) to casual or humorous (“brunch sinners”). Because it can sound judgmental, use carefully in neutral writing.
Connection to sexuality
Indirect. Some traditions use sinner to label sexual behavior they consider wrong (e.g., adultery). The word itself isn’t sexual; it’s a general moral label.
Common collocations
repentant sinner, chief of sinners, fellow sinners, public sinner, habitual sinner, sinner saved by grace, poor sinner, love the sinner (phrase), sinful behavior, confess one’s sins
Idioms and expressions
- love the sinner, hate the sin — counsel to separate the person from the act.
- sinner and saint — paired contrast.
- no rest for the wicked — playful way to include “sinners” by implication.
- a sinner saved by grace — religious phrasing about forgiveness.
Prepositions and nuance
- sinner in the eyes of [God/the law/the public] — perspective of judgment.
- sinner against [a commandment/ethic] — specifies the rule broken.
- sinner before [God/the court] — formal setting of confession/judgment.
- among sinners — grouping identity; often humble or rhetorical.
Word comparisons
- sinner vs criminal — criminal breaks the law; sinner breaks a moral/religious rule (not always illegal).
- sinner vs wrongdoer/offender — broader and less religious; can be legal.
- sinner vs libertine — libertine suggests a lifestyle of pleasure-seeking; sinner is any person judged as morally in the wrong.
- sinner vs hypocrite — hypocrite violates their own stated standards; may or may not be called a sinner.
- sinner vs saint — conventional opposites.
Real-life examples
- The memoir calls everyone “sinners” to emphasize shared human imperfection.
- A headline labeled the official a “public sinner” after an affair; the column later adopted neutral language.
- In the play, a “repentant sinner” asks for forgiveness and reconciliation.
- A teacher contrasted legal “offender” with moral “sinner” to show different systems of judgment.
Sample sentences
- The sermon urged sinners to seek forgiveness and make amends.
- In casual talk he joked, “I’m a coffee-before-water sinner.”
- Journalists avoided calling anyone a sinner and reported the facts of the case.
- The novel portrays saints and sinners as the same people at different moments.
Synonyms
wrongdoer, transgressor, offender, evildoer, miscreant, reprobate, culprit, backslider, libertine, profligate
Antonyms
saint, righteous person, virtuous person, innocent, moralist, devout person, exemplar
Related terms
sin, sinful, sinless, repentance, contrition, atonement, absolution, penance, redemption, grace, morality, ethics, virtue, vice, guilt, shame, confession, forgiveness
Notes and etiquette
Because sinner can stigmatize, use people-first, specific language in professional contexts (e.g., person who broke a policy; person who committed adultery). Distinguish moral judgment from legal status, and avoid using the term as a blanket label for groups.
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