German word

Konfession

Pronunciation

IPA/kɔnfɛˈsi̯oːn/

Meaning

  • feminine noundenomination

Example

In Deutschland gibt es viele Konfessionen.

There are many denominations in Germany.

Illustration for Konfession (denomination)

More examples

In der Schule wird oft die Konfession der Schüler berücksichtigt.

At school, the students' religious denominations are often taken into account.

Core concept

A shared religious identity that marks both a faith community and the creed associated with it.

Common phrases

  • zu einer Konfession gehören

    belong to a religious denomination

  • kirchliche Konfession

    ecclesiastical denomination

  • Konfession bekennen

    profess one's denomination

Similar words

Religion: A faith system concerning God, the supernatural, and related beliefs.
Gemeinde: A local religious community centered on shared worship and activities.
Glaubensgemeinschaft: A community united by the same faith and shared religious activities.
Glaubensrichtung: A particular trend or school of belief within a religion.

Definition in German

Zugehörigkeit zu einer bestimmten religiösen Richtung oder Denomination; auch das gemeinsame Glaubensbekenntnis einer solchen Gemeinschaft.

Word origin

Konfession is a borrowing based on Latin confiteri, to confess or acknowledge, whose noun confessio developed into the German religious term.

Usage tips

  • The phrase welcher Konfession angehören uses dative after angehören, as in einer Konfession angehören.

Other meanings

  • creednoun

Opposites

  • Konfessionslosigkeitlack of religious affiliationnoun

Related words

  • konfessionellconfessionaladjective
  • Konfessionsfreiheitfreedom of religionnoun

Word lists with this word