original sin

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

orig′inal sin′, 

1. Religion [Theol.]
   • Religion a depravity, or tendency to evil, held to be innate in humankind and transmitted from Adam to the race in consequence of his sin.
   • Religion inclination to evil, inherent in human nature.
2. Religion [Rom. Cath. Theol.] the privation of sanctifying grace in consequence of the sin of Adam.
• 1300–50; Middle English; translation of Medieval Latin peccātum orīgināle

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

original sin noun

1. a state of sin held to be innate in humankind as the descendants of Adam