restitution
res-tih-TOO-shun
/ˌrɛstɪˈtjuːʃən/
The restoration of something lost or stolen to its proper owner; recompense for injury or loss.
Specifically refers to returning the exact item or the exact value of what was taken, rather than general damages.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'restituere', meaning to set up again. It implies that the status quo has been knocked over and must be physically placed back where it was.
Word relationships
- indemnity: Indemnity is security or protection against a loss or other financial burden.
- recompense: Recompense is a more general term for compensation or reward.
- deprivation: Deprivation is the damaging lack of material benefits or the act of taking something away.
Commonly confused with
- reparation: Restitution is returning what was taken; reparation is making amends for a wrong that cannot be fully 'returned' (like pain or suffering).
Word family
- restitute (verb): To restore to a former state or owner (rarely used).
Collocations
- financial restitution
- order restitution
- make restitution
Example sentences
- "The court ordered the defendant to pay $5,000 in restitution to the victim for the stolen equipment." Court Ruling
- "Many activists are calling for the restitution of cultural artifacts taken during the colonial era." Historical Justice
Memory hook
REST-itution: Give the owner some 'rest' by giving their stuff back. Give it back.
When not to use
Do not use for emotional apologies; it almost always involves a tangible transfer of money or property.
Fun facts
- In physics, the 'coefficient of restitution' measures how much an object 'bounces back' to its original shape after a collision.
Related words
Explore more words
amends, compensate, retributive, redress, restoration, damages
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