sinner

What it means

1. A person who sins or has sinned.
   1. A person who, by one particular action, has sinned.

      Some Christians believe the Bible tells us that homosexuals are sinners. The current trend of increased acceptance of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community is distressing to these Christians who sincerely want to follow the Bible.

      2016, Janet Edmonds, The Bible Doesn’t Say That Homosexuality is a Sin

      Synonyms: criminal, evildoer, offender

   2. doctrinalChristianityAn unregenerate person.

      Synonyms: criminal, evildoer, offender

2. broadlyfigurativelyA person with negative qualities; one who does bad things.

In a sentence

Some Christians believe the Bible tells us that homosexuals are sinners. The current trend of increased acceptance of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community is distressing to these Christians who sincerely want to follow the Bible.

2016, Janet Edmonds, The Bible Doesn’t Say That Homosexuality is a Sin

Where it comes from

1. Proto-Indo-European*h₁es-
2. Proto-Germanic*sunjō
3. Proto-West Germanic*sunnju
4. Old Englishsynn
5. Old Englishsynniġ
6. Old Englishsyngian
7. Middle Englishsyngen
8. Middle Englishsynnen
9. Middle Englishsynnere
10. Englishsinner

From Middle English synnere, equivalent to sin + -er. Compare Saterland Frisian Säänder (“sinner”), West Frisian sûnder (“sinner”), Dutch zondaar (“sinner”), German Low German Sünder, Sünner (“sinner”), German Sünder (“sinner”), Danish synder (“sinner”), Swedish syndare (“sinner”), Icelandic syndari (“sinner”).