reconciliation

noun

rec·​on·​cil·​i·​a·​tion ˌre-kən-ˌsi-lē-ˈā-shən How to pronounce reconciliation (audio)
Synonyms of reconciliation
1
: the action of reconciling : the state of being reconciled
2
: the Roman Catholic sacrament of penance
3
US government : a legislative process that enables expedited passage of a bill relating to certain matters in the federal budget by a simple majority of votes
used reconciliation to repeal the bill passed during the prior session of Congress
Aides to senior House Republicans said Thursday that committee chairmen were meeting now to decide whether a budget plan … will include parliamentary language, known as reconciliation instructions, that would allow much of a Republican health care plan to pass the filibuster-prone Senate with a simple majority.Jonathan Weisman
reconciliatory adjective

Examples of reconciliation in a Sentence

Signing the trade agreement was praised as an act of reconciliation between the two countries. He contacted us in hopes of a reconciliation. a reconciliation of opposing views
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The film, which is the first Rwandan film to screen at the festival, explores the complexities of justice and reconciliation in Rwanda close to 20 years after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, through the experiences of a survivor. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 23 May 2026 The film explores the pursuit of justice and reconciliation for survivors of the country’s genocide. Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 23 May 2026 Nowhere is this reconciliation more evident than in the enduring contentions surrounding France’s Pacific territory of New Caledonia, also known as Kanak by its native community. Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026 The reconciliation measure is unrelated to the Justice Department fund, but Democrats vowed to force votes on amendments targeting the fund during the Senate's vote-a-rama on the funding package, which was expected to begin Thursday. Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 22 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for reconciliation

Word History

Etymology

Middle English reconsiliacioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin reconciliation-, reconciliatio, from reconciliare

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of reconciliation was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Reconciliation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reconciliation. Accessed 28 May. 2026.

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