restoration
res-tuh-RAY-shuhn
ˌrestəˈreɪʃn
The action of returning something to its former condition, place, or owner.
In art and architecture, it involves repairing damage while trying to maintain the original appearance.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'restaurare', meaning to 'repair' or 'renew'. This is the same root that gave us the word 'restaurant'—a place to 'restore' your energy with food!
Word relationships
- renewal: Renewal is making something new again; restoration is making it like it was before.
- renovation: Renovation often involves modernizing; restoration strictly avoids modernizing.
- dilapidation: The state of being in decay or ruin.
- destruction: The act of ruining something completely.
Commonly confused with
- repair: Repair is just fixing what is broken; restoration is returning the whole object to its original glory.
Word family
- restore (verb): To bring back to a former condition.
- restorative (adjective): Having the ability to restore health or strength.
Collocations
- complete restoration
- restoration project
- art restoration
Example sentences
- "The restoration of the medieval cathedral took over twenty years to complete." Architecture
- "The people celebrated the restoration of democracy after years of military rule." Politics
Memory hook
'Rest-oration' is giving an object a 'rest' from its damage by fixing it. Back to original.
When not to use
Don't use 'restoration' for simply cleaning something; it implies a more significant effort to fix damage or decay.
Fun facts
- The Sistine Chapel ceiling restoration (1980–1994) was controversial because it revealed much brighter colors than people expected.
Explore more words
restore, restorative, renovation, rehabilitate, restitution, preservation
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