conciliation
kun-sil-ee-AY-shun
/kənˌsɪliˈeɪʃn/
The action of stopping someone from being angry; placating.
Conciliation is specifically about restoring goodwill and emotional balance, not just reaching a technical agreement.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'concilium,' meaning a council or assembly. To conciliate was to bring people together into a council to resolve their differences.
Word relationships
- appeasement: Appeasement often has a negative connotation of giving in to a bully; conciliation is about mutual goodwill.
- provocation: Provocation is intended to make someone angry; conciliation is intended to calm them.
Commonly confused with
- reconciliation: Reconciliation is the end result (being friends again); conciliation is the process of making things better.
Word family
- conciliate (verb): To stop someone from being angry.
- conciliatory (adjective): Intended to placate or pacify.
Collocations
- spirit of conciliation
- policy of conciliation
- act of conciliation
Example sentences
- "The proposition is peace. Not peace through the medium of war; not peace to be hunted through the labyrinth of intricate and endless negotiations; but peace sought in the spirit of conciliation." A historical speech on the American colonies.
- "The government offered a process of conciliation to bring the striking workers and the management back to the table." Labor disputes.
Memory hook
Conciliation is like a 'council' where everyone 'reconciles.' Bringing hearts together.
When not to use
Don't use it for a purely financial transaction where emotions aren't involved.
Fun facts
- In many legal systems, a 'conciliation board' is a formal body that tries to settle disputes before they go to court.
Related words
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