penance
nounUK /ˈpɛnəns/
US /ˈpɛnəns/
Something you do to show you are sorry for doing something wrong.
As penance for breaking the window, he washed his neighbor's car.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A punishment you choose to accept to show you are sorry.
She did extra chores as penance for lying to her parents.
3. In some religions, a duty or prayer given by a priest to make up for a sin.
The priest gave him a simple penance of saying three prayers.
4. A feeling of deep sorrow for having done wrong.
He lived his whole life in penance for his past mistakes.