restitution
ress-tih-TOO-shun
/ˌrestɪˈtuːʃn/
The restoration of something lost or stolen to its proper owner; recompense for injury or loss.
Restitution is about the physical act of returning what was taken. It is very common in criminal law.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'restituere,' meaning 'to set up again.' It’s the idea of putting a fallen statue back on its pedestal.
Word relationships
- restoration: Restoration is broader; restitution is specifically about returning it to the owner.
- seizure: The act of taking something away forcibly.
Commonly confused with
- compensation: Compensation is giving something equivalent (like money); restitution is giving the original thing back.
Word family
- restitute (verb): To restore to a former state or owner (rarely used).
Collocations
- make restitution
- seek restitution
- order restitution
Example sentences
- "The court ordered the thief to make full restitution to the victims." A legal ruling.
- "There is an ongoing debate about the restitution of ancient artifacts to their countries of origin." Historical artifacts.
Memory hook
Restitution = 'Rest-the-institution'. You return the stolen money to the bank (institution) so it can rest easy. Giving it back.
When not to use
Not used for emotional apologies where nothing physical was lost.
Fun facts
- In some legal systems, restitution is a mandatory part of sentencing for certain crimes.
Related words
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