North American blocking change in what sinners may do (7)
I believe the answer is:
penance
'what sinners may do' is the definition.
The definition suggests a singular noun which matches the answer.
'north american blocking change in' is the wordplay.
'north' becomes 'N' (abbreviation).
'american' becomes 'a' (common abbreviation - e.g. in organisation names).
'blocking' indicates putting letters inside (to block can mean to plug a gap in something).
'change' becomes 'pence' (I have seen 'Small change ' mean 'pence' so perhaps 'change' could also mean 'pence').
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'a' inserted within 'pence' is 'penace'.
'n' put inside 'penace' is 'PENANCE'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for penance that I've seen before include "Amends" , "Act of penitence" , "sacrament" , "sackcloth and ashes?" , "Self-inflicted punishment for wrongdoing" .)