SINCE 1828
atonement
noun
atone·ment
| \ ə-ˈtōn-mənt
\
\
Definition of atonement
1
: reparation for an offense or injury : satisfaction
a story of sin and atonement He wanted to find a way to make atonement for his sins.
2
: the reconciliation of God and humankind through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ
3
Christian Science
: the exemplifying of human oneness with God
Examples of atonement in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sinners are liable to be punished by having their identities revealed and their lives open to the outrage of the mob, which is all about humiliating the enemy in this new culture of ours that demands a walk of atonement. — John Kass, chicagotribune.com, "Put coward Florida cop in prison, and who’s next? The social worker? The teacher? The politician?," 6 June 2019 But because the brain is changing, teens have increased capacity for atonement and rehabilitation than someone in middle age, and punishments should take that into account. — Karen Campbell, BostonGlobe.com, "Her quest to understand the teenage brain," 12 July 2018 Most of the Jews now are immigrants from the former Soviet Union who were taken in after the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, a gesture of atonement for the Holocaust crimes of the Nazis. — Kirsten Grieshaber, Fox News, "Jewish teens enlisted to fight anti-Semitism in Germany," 29 July 2018 The pitches blanketing media channels in recent weeks show how the latest wave of atonement tours has become more sophisticated, as customers themselves increasingly tap multiple forums to express their dissatisfaction with a brand... — Tory Newmyer, Washington Post, "The Finance 202: Volcker Rule changes aren't actually wholesale gutting of post-crisis regime," 31 May 2018 The pitches blanketing media channels in recent weeks show how the latest wave of atonement tours has become more sophisticated, as customers themselves increasingly tap multiple forums to express their dissatisfaction with a brand.... — Suzanne Vranica, WSJ, "‘I’m Sorry’ Gets More Expensive for Wells, Uber and Facebook," 30 May 2018 Male redemption narratives have rarely required of their leading figures any meaningful restoration or atonement: The simple act of apologizing is enough to warrant a second act. — Hannah Giorgis, The Atlantic, "Do Beyoncé Fans Have to Forgive Jay-Z?," 18 June 2018 For a man interested in atonement, that’s a slam dunk. — Jenice Armstrong, Philly.com, "A big rebound for ex-Sixers star Jayson Williams | Jenice Armstrong," 4 June 2018 Though quite radical in his exploration of parenthood, Nevo is rather conservative on the question of which character deserves punishment and which achieves atonement. — Ayelet Gundar-goshen, New York Times, "Three Floors, Three Different Israeli Stories," 5 Jan. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'atonement.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for atonement
atonement
noun
atone·ment
| \ ə-ˈtōn-mənt
\
\
Kids Definition of atonement
: a making up for an offense or injury
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