Con‐fess″or (?; 277), n. [OF. confessor, F. confesseur, fr. L. & LL. confessor.] 1. One who confesses; one who acknowledges a fault, or the truth of a charge, at the risk of suffering; specifically, one who confesses himself a follower of Christ and endures persecution for his faith.
He who dies for religion is a martyr; he who suffers for it is a confessor.
Latham.
Our religion which hath been sealed with the blood of so many martyrs and confessors.
Bacon.
2. A priest who hears the confessions of others and is authorized to grant them absolution.