Reparation: meaning, definitions and examples

Used in situations where a wrong or harm has been done, especially in the context of international conflicts, wars, or historical injustices. Often associated with formal or legal settings.

• Germany paid reparations after World War II.
• The government discussed reparations for the descendants of enslaved people.

Used in situations where someone receives something, typically money, in return for loss, injury, or suffering. Common in legal, employment, and insurance contexts.

• She received compensation for the injuries she sustained in the car accident.
• Employees are looking forward to their annual compensation reviews.

Used to refer to giving something (usually money) to someone as a reward or payment for loss, suffering, or effort. It has a more formal tone but can be used in various situations.

• He was offered a small sum as recompense for his work on the project.
• The church gave recompense to the families affected by the flood.

Used especially in legal contexts, referring to the act of restoring or giving back something to its rightful owner or compensating for loss or damage. It often involves returning property or money.

• The court ordered restitution to the victims of the fraud.
• He made restitution by returning the stolen goods.

Used in formal settings to refer to security or protection against financial loss or liability. Often used in insurance and legal agreements.

• The contractor was required to provide indemnity in case of work-related injuries.
• The insurance policy includes indemnity for damages caused by natural disasters.

Similar to the first entry, reparation is repeated possibly due to a mistake, but generally refers to compensating for a wrong or injury, usually in a formal sense.

• The government issued reparations to the families of the victims.

Used in everyday language to describe actions taken to correct or compensate for a mistake or wrongdoing, typically on a personal level.

• He made amends by apologizing and offering to help fix the problem.
• She tried to make amends for her harsh words.

Often found in religious or moral contexts, atonement refers to making up for a sin or wrong action, seeking forgiveness or reconciliation.

• He sought atonement through prayer and good deeds.
• The rituals were a form of atonement for their sins.

A formal term often used in legal or policy contexts, referring to the act of setting wrongs right, typically through compensation or corrective actions.

• The company provided financial redress to the affected customers.
• They sought legal redress for the harms they suffered.

This term is usually associated with religious practices, indicating self-punishment or actions taken to show repentance for sins.

• As penance, she decided to volunteer at the local shelter.
• He performed acts of penance to seek forgiveness.

Reparation is often used when referring to compensation given for a wrong or damage done, especially in legal or political contexts.

• The government agreed to make reparations to the victims of the war.
• Reparations were paid to the community for the environmental damage.

Amends is typically used when someone is trying to repair a personal relationship or make up for a past mistake. It is often less formal than 'reparation' and more focused on moral or emotional aspects.

• She made amends with her brother after their argument.
• He tried to make amends by apologizing and fixing the mistake.

Reconciliation is used when people or groups come back together and restore friendly relations, often after a conflict or disagreement. It emphasizes the restoration of harmony.

• There was a reconciliation between the two friends after years of estrangement.
• The countries engaged in talks aimed at reconciliation.

Apology is used when someone expresses regret for a mistake or offense. It is generally a verbal or written expression and is often used in personal or informal communications.

• She sent a heartfelt apology for missing the meeting.
• He offered an apology for his rude behavior.

Recovery is used to describe the process of returning to a normal state after a crisis, illness, or difficult situation. It is often used in medical or financial contexts.

• She made a full recovery after the surgery.
• The economy showed signs of recovery after the recession.