reconciliation
The restoration of friendly relations; the process of making two opposing parties compatible or harmonious.
Reconciliation goes beyond a physical ceasefire; it is a psychological and social process. It involves addressing past grievances, forgiving, and rebuilding trust so that former enemies can live together.
Word relationships
- harmonization: Harmonization is making different systems or ideas compatible, while reconciliation specifically emphasizes restoring broken personal or political relationships.
- estrangement: Estrangement is the state of being alienated or separated from someone, representing a complete breakdown of a relationship.
Commonly confused with
- compromise: A compromise is a practical agreement where both sides give up something to reach a deal; reconciliation is a deeper emotional or social healing of the relationship itself.
Word family
- reconcile (verb): To restore friendly relations.
- reconcilable (adjective): Capable of being brought into harmony.
Collocations
- national reconciliation
- achieve reconciliation
- reconciliation process
- truth and reconciliation
Example sentences
- "True reconciliation does not consist in merely forgetting the past." Nelson Mandela speaking on post-apartheid South Africa.
- "The town established a reconciliation council to help neighbors who had supported opposing sides during the civil war find common ground." A community program after a civil conflict.
Memory hook
Think of 're-' (again) + 'conciliate' (to make friendly). To reconcile is to make friendly again. Re-concile: Bring back into council together.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'conciliation' (which is the initial step of bringing parties together to negotiate). Reconciliation is the deeper, long-term healing process.
Fun facts
- South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, chaired by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, became a global model for resolving deep-seated historical trauma without resorting to retributive justice.
Explore more words
reconcile, rapprochement, conciliation, conciliate, accord, mediate
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