FESS

Fess is an informal verb meaning to confess or admit something, especially to reveal a fault, mistake, or embarrassing fact. It is most often encountered in the phrasing fess up or fess to, and can appear as fessed up or fessing up in different tenses.

In usage, fess is typically transitive with a prepositional complement: for example, fess up to the mistake or fess to the charges. It is common in casual speech and writing but is generally considered informal and may sound humorous or brusque in more formal contexts. Its tone can range from straightforward to playful, depending on the speaker and context.

Etymology for fess traces to a clipping of confess, emerging in American slang in the 20th century. While the exact origins are not firmly documented, the form has become widely understood as a shorthand for admitting truth or liability. Because of its colloquial nature, fess is more likely to be used in dialogue, personal writing, or media that aims for a conversational voice.

Usage and nuance: fess often carries a sense of urging someone to admit something or a matter of public honesty. It can be used sincerely to emphasize accountability or humorously to mimic everyday speech. In formal writing, alternatives such as confess, admit, or own up are typically preferred.

See also: confession, admit, own up, come clean.