reparation
rep-uh-RAY-shun
/ˌrɛpəˈreɪʃən/
The making of amends for a wrong one has done, by paying money to or otherwise helping those who have been wronged.
Often used in the plural ('reparations') to refer to payments made by a country to those it has wronged in war or through systemic injustice.
The story behind the word. From 're-' (again) and 'parare' (to make ready). It’s the same root that gives us 'prepare.' To make reparations is to 're-prepare' a person or a nation to function after they have been broken.
Word relationships
- amends: Amends is a more informal term for fixing a personal relationship.
- atonement: Atonement is more spiritual or emotional; reparation is more material or legal.
- extortion: Extortion is the practice of obtaining something through force or threats, the opposite of giving back.
Commonly confused with
- restitution: Restitution is returning a specific thing; reparation is general compensation for a broad harm.
Word family
- repair (verb): To fix or mend.
Collocations
- war reparations
- make reparations
- financial reparations
Example sentences
- "Germany was required to pay massive reparations to the Allied powers after World War I." International Law
- "The debate over reparations for slavery continues to be a significant political issue in the United States." Social Justice
Memory hook
REPARATION: Think of 'RE-PAIRING' a broken life or country. Repair the damage.
When not to use
Do not use for simple mechanical repairs; use 'repair' instead.
Fun facts
- The Treaty of Versailles in 1919 set reparations for Germany at 132 billion gold marks, a debt that was not fully paid off until 2010.
Related words
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