reparation

noun

rep·​a·​ra·​tion ˌre-pə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce reparation (audio)
1
a
: a repairing or keeping in repair
b
reparations plural : repairs
2
a
: the act of making amends, offering expiation, or giving satisfaction for a wrong or injury
b
: something done or given as amends or satisfaction
3
: the payment of damages : indemnification
specifically : compensation in money or materials payable by a defeated nation for damages to or expenditures sustained by another nation as a result of hostilities with the defeated nation
usually used in plural

Examples of reparation in a Sentence

The country paid millions in reparations. They've offered no apologies and seem to have no thoughts of reparation. She says she's sorry and wants to make reparations.
Recent Examples on the Web Speaking at the Auckland District Court on Friday, Judge Evangelos Thomas ordered that reparations be paid to victims by three New Zealand tourism companies: White Island Tours, the helicopter company Volcanic Air Safaris and Whakaari Management Limited, which owns the island. Natasha Frost, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024 The $4 million proposed for a reparations office was cut out of this year’s budget. Jorge L. Ortiz, USA TODAY, 28 Feb. 2024 That same year, the Boston City Council voted to form a reparations task force. Janie Har, Fortune, 27 Feb. 2024 But for those who followed California’s reparations task force and for most Black Americans, the findings are hardly groundbreaking. Erika D. Smith, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2024 At a news conference Thursday, state Sen. Steven Bradford said the Black caucus’ priority list does not prohibit individual lawmakers from proposing additional reparations legislation. Melissa Noel, Essence, 2 Feb. 2024 If reparations became law A line of desperate, hopeful, and excited Black people wraps around a Mississippi library. Ira Porter, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Feb. 2024 The court rejected Ukraine’s requests to order reparations for both violations and only ordered Russia to comply with the treaties. Reuters, CNN, 31 Jan. 2024 The revelation that Hammons' ancestors appear to have been denied land willed to them by a wealthy slaveholder also adds to a growing push for reparations to help make up for the wealth Black descendants of enslaved people lost, Schermerhorn said. Daniel Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'reparation.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English reparacion, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin reparation-, reparatio, from Latin reparare

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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

Dictionary Entries Near reparation

Cite this Entry

“Reparation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reparation. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

reparation

noun
rep·​a·​ra·​tion ˌrep-ə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce reparation (audio)
1
: a repairing or keeping in repair
a building in need of constant reparation
2
: the act of making up for a wrong
3
: money or materials paid or to be paid by a country losing a war to the winner to make up for damages done in the war
usually used in plural

Legal Definition

reparation

noun
rep·​a·​ra·​tion ˌre-pə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce reparation (audio)
1
a
: the act of making amends, offering expiation, or giving satisfaction for a wrong or injury
b
: something done or given as amends or satisfaction
2
: the payment of damages
specifically : compensation in money or materials payable by a defeated nation for damages to or expenditures sustained by another nation as a result of hostilities with the defeated nation
usually used in pl.

More from Merriam-Webster on reparation

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