Sin

Pronunciation

• enPR: sÄ­n, IPA: /sɪn/
• Rhymes: -ɪn

From Middle English sinne, synne, sunne, zen, from Old English sinn, senn, synn ("injury, mischief, enmity, feud; sin, guilt, crime"), from Proto-Germanic *sunjō ("truth, excuse") and Proto-Germanic *sundijō, *sundiz ("sin"), from Proto-Indo-European *sent-, *sont- ("being, true", implying a verdict of "truly guilty" against an accusation or charge), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁es- ("to be"); compare Old English sōþ ("true, very, sooth"; see sooth).

Alternative forms

• synne obsolete

Full definition of sin

Noun

1. (theology) A violation of God's will or religious law.
   I'm Christian and I think that's a sin against God.
2. A misdeed.
• 1963, Margery Allingham, The China Governess Chapter 20, The story struck the depressingly familiar note with which true stories ring in the tried ears of experienced policemen....The second note, the high alarum, not so familiar and always important since it indicates the paramount sin in Man's private calendar, took most of them by surprise although they had been well prepared.
3. A sin offering; a sacrifice for sin.
• Bible, 2 Corinthians v. 21He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin.
4. An embodiment of sin; a very wicked person.
• William ShakespeareThy ambition,
  Thou scarlet sin, robbed this bewailing land
  Of noble Buckingham.

Synonyms

• haram in Islam

Derived terms

Verb

1. (intransitive, theology) To commit a sin.

Derived terms

• sinner

Pronunciation

Modification of shin.

Alternative forms

• seen, sÄ«n

Noun

1. A letter of the Hebrew alphabet; ש
2. A letter of the Arabic alphabet;

Anagrams

• INS, ins, ins., NIS, nis