- (Roman Catholicism, theology) a sin which causes the loss of God’s grace, leading to eternal damnation, unless the sinner repents, which includes their intent to confess and atone; such a sin is defined as a transgression against one of the Ten Commandments with the full knowledge and deliberate consent of the sinner.
- Note that Catholic doctrine defines the Ten Commandments in a wider than literal sense. For example, thou shalt not commit adultery is taken to include all disallowed sexual activity; thou shalt not murder is taken to include any unnecessary, dangerous harm against a person’s health and honour.
- deadly sin (strictly a different concept, though often used interchangeably)
- capital vice
- cardinal sin