noun

• The open admittance of having done something (especially something bad).
• A formal document providing such an admission.
• (Christianity) The disclosure of one's sins to a priest for absolution. In the Roman Catholic Church, it is now also termed the sacrament of reconciliation.
• Acknowledgment of belief; profession of one's faith.
• A formula 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.