reconciliation

noun

rec·​on·​cil·​i·​a·​tion ˌre-kən-ˌsi-lē-ˈā-shən 

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

ˌre-kən-ˈsil-yə-ˌtȯr-ē 

-ˈsi-lē-ə-

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

Not just a sweeping statement about reconciliation and doing the exact opposite. — Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026

This is a sad development for Sweet Magnolias fans who would’ve liked a proper conclusion via a final season, with an Annie and Ty reconciliation probably at the top of their wishlist. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 18 Sep. 2026

As a result, payment reconciliation and cash flow forecasting have changed considerably. — Dr. Saheer Nelliparamban, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026

But the internet is not a place of understanding — nuance is lost and reconciliation feels like an impossibility. — Sean Woods, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2026

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

Rhymes for reconciliation

• abbreviation
• abomination
• acceleration
• accentuation
• accommodation
• accreditation
• acculturation
• accumulation
• acetylation
• adjudication
• administration
• adulteration