reparation

[ rep-uh-rey-shuhn ]

noun

1. 1. the making of amends for wrong or injury done:

      In reparation for the injustice, the king made him head of the agricultural department.

   2. something done or given to make amends:

      The prosecutor has requested a reparation of $32 million to victims of the crime.

   Synonyms: compensation, satisfaction, atonement, indemnification

2. Usually reparations.
   1. compensation in money, material, labor, etc., payable by a defeated country to another country or to an individual for loss suffered during or as a result of war:

      The U.S. government eventually disbursed reparations to Japanese Americans who had been interned during World War II.

   2. monetary or other compensation payable by a country to an individual for a historical wrong:

      The article is about reparations to Black people for the enslavement of their ancestors.

3. restoration to good condition.

   Synonyms: repair, renovate, renewal

   Antonyms: destruction

4. repair ¹( def 7 ).

reparation

/ rɪˈpærətɪv; ˌrɛpəˈreɪʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of making amends

   an injury admitting of no reparation

2. usually plural compensation exacted as an indemnity from a defeated nation by the victors: esp the compensation demanded of Germany by the Treaty of Versailles after World War I
3. the act or process of repairing or state of having been repaired

reparation

1. Compensation demanded by a victorious nation from a defeated nation. Reparations can be in the form of goods or money.

Notes

After World War I , heavy reparation debts were imposed on Germany by Britain , France , and the other victorious nations. Resentment over these reparations aided the rise of Adolf Hitler .

Derived Forms

• reparative, adjective

Other Words From

• non·rep·a·ra·tion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of reparation¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English reparacion, from Middle French, from Late Latin reparātiōn- (stem of reparātiō ), equivalent to Latin reparāt(us) (past participle of reparāre “to repair” ( repair ¹, -ate ¹ ) + -iōn- noun suffix ( -ion )

Word History and Origins

Origin of reparation¹

C14 reparacioun , ultimately from Latin reparāre to repair ¹

Synonym Study

See redress.

Example Sentences

As reparation, the court ordered $563 to be paid out to Yang and required the clinic to post an apology on its website.

From The Daily Beast

Because of the obligation to make reparation that a crime against humanity always imposes.

From The Daily Beast

Three years on, the demands for some kind of reparation have reached fever pitch.

From The Daily Beast

She may be referring to the civil reparation fine, which matches the amount she wired.

From The Daily Beast

The only reparation I want is for you to see rape as not my problem, but your problem.

From The Daily Beast

The score of this work seemed like a sin, for which he must make reparation at all costs.

From Project Gutenberg

He was charged with having committed a wrong; but he was not asked to make reparation.

From Project Gutenberg

On her side, the baroness did everything in her power to give the utmost brilliancy to this solemn reparation.

From Project Gutenberg

The work of reparation followed, and the chapel was deemed sufficient till 1856, when it was entirely rebuilt and enlarged.

From Project Gutenberg

That was why, instinctively, she had put on her old homespun with a vague purpose of reparation to them.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• apology
• atonement
• indemnity
• payment
• redress
• remuneration
• renewal
• repayment
• restitution