1. an act of self-punishment or devotion performed to show repentance for sin or wrongdoing
Usage: religious
2. punishment or hardship endured as retribution for past actions

Examples

• The priest assigned him ten Hail Marys as penance for his sins.
• She did volunteer work as penance for her past mistakes.
• The criminal viewed his prison sentence as just penance.
• He fasted for three days as an act of penance.
• The long journey felt like penance for abandoning his family.
• Medieval pilgrims traveled great distances as penance for their sins.