Definition of penitent

• a. - Feeling pain or sorrow on account of sins or offenses; repentant; contrite; sincerely affected by a sense of guilt, and resolved on amendment of life.
• a. - Doing penance.
• n. - One who repents of sin; one sorrowful on account of his transgressions.
• n. - One under church censure, but admitted to penance; one undergoing penance.
• n. - One under the direction of a confessor.