What does contrite mean?
"Contrite" is an adjective describing genuine sorrow and self-reproach for something one has done wrong. A person who is contrite does not merely apologize mechanically; they feel real regret, often visible in their tone, posture, or words. The word derives from the Latin "contritus," meaning "ground down" or "worn away," reflecting the old religious idea that true repentance crushes the sinner's pride. In modern usage it appears most often in discussions of apologies, moral failures, and public mea culpas: a "contrite letter," a "contrite tone," or a politician's "contrite appearance" before the press. Because remorse can be feigned, the word sometimes carries a faint note of skepticism when applied to celebrities or officials, as though the speaker is weighing how sincere the sorrow really is. Its noun form, "contrition," is especially common in religious language, where it denotes the heartfelt repentance expected before forgiveness.
adjectiveFeeling or showing sincere remorse and regret for wrongdoing; penitent.
- Feeling or expressing genuine remorse for having done wrong.
- (Of behavior, tone, or appearance) showing or conveying such remorse, whether sincerely felt or performed.
"He sent a contrite letter of apology the morning after the argument."
"She gave him a contrite smile and admitted she had been wrong all along."
"The CEO's contrite statement at the press conference did little to calm angry shareholders."
The word 'contrite' literally comes from Latin meaning 'ground to pieces' — true remorse was imagined as being crushed under the weight of one's own guilt.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of contrite
"Contrite" entered English from Latin via Old French, ultimately deriving from the Latin verb "conterere," meaning "to grind together, wear down, or crush." The past participle "contritus," literally "ground to pieces," was adopted by medieval Christian writers as a vivid image of the soul humbled and broken by guilt, giving rise to the related term "contrition." The adjective has been in use since late Middle English, and its derivative forms include the noun "contrition" and the adverb "contritely."
Related word forms
How contrite is actually used
Contrite is a formal-to-neutral word most at home in written English, moral discussion, journalism, and religious contexts. It carries a strongly positive moral connotation — to be contrite is generally seen as virtuous — but it can shade into irony when used of public figures whose apologies seem staged, in which case calling an apology 'contrite' may subtly question its sincerity.
Easily confused with contrite
Trite means overused and lacking originality (as in a clichéd phrase), whereas contrite describes someone genuinely sorry for a fault.