Restitution: meaning, definitions and examples

Restitution is typically used in legal contexts when something has been taken or damaged and needs to be returned or replaced. It focuses on restoring the victim to their original state.

• The thief was ordered to pay restitution for the stolen goods.
• The company made restitution to the clients affected by the data breach.

Compensation is a broad term used in various contexts, such as employment, personal injury, or customer service, to describe payment or benefits given for work performed, losses, or damages sustained.

• Workers receive compensation for overtime work.
• The airline offered compensation to passengers for the delayed flight.

Reparation is often used in historical, legal, or political contexts to describe compensation or amends made, especially for wrongdoing or harm done during a conflict or under oppressive conditions.

• The government issued reparations to descendants of enslaved people.
• Reparations were paid by the country for damages caused during the war.

Indemnification is typically found in legal and contractual contexts. It involves providing security or protection against financial losses, often through an indemnity clause in contracts.

• The contract includes a clause for indemnification against any third-party claims.
• He sought indemnification from the company for losses incurred during the project.

Use this word when referring to the act of returning something that was lost or stolen to its rightful owner or compensating for loss or damage.

• The thief was ordered to make restitution to the victim.
• The company provided restitution for the environmental damage caused.

Use this word when referring to the process of returning something to its original or better condition, particularly in the context of buildings, art, or ecosystems.

• The ancient painting underwent extensive restoration.
• The government funded the restoration of historic landmarks.

Use this word when referring to the process of restoring someone to their former position or state, often after being removed or dismissed.

• The employee's reinstatement was ordered after the wrongful termination lawsuit.
• The committee is lobbying for the reinstatement of the old regulations.

Use this word when referring to the process of regaining health, possession, or status after a loss or setback.

• She is now in recovery after the surgery.
• The economic recovery after the recession was slow.