restoration

noun

res·​to·​ra·​tion ˌre-stə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: an act of restoring or the condition of being restored: such as

a

: a bringing back to a former position or condition : reinstatement

the restoration of peace

b

: restitution

c

: a restoring to an unimpaired or improved condition

the restoration of a painting

d

: the replacing of missing teeth or crowns

2

: something that is restored

especially : a representation or reconstruction of the original form (as of a fossil or a building)

3

capitalized

a

: the reestablishing of the monarchy in England in 1660 under Charles II

b

: the period in English history usually held to coincide with the reign of Charles II but sometimes to extend through the reign of James II

Examples of restoration in a Sentence

The building is undergoing restoration.

the restoration of peace after war

the restoration of law and order by the police

The town called for a restoration of the law.

Recent Examples on the Web

The great danger of that moment was that a political backlash — abetted by a furious media and timorous politicians — would lead to a restoration of the policy of Roe. —The Editors, National Review, 24 June 2025

Anchoring the Cité, the medieval old town laid over Celtic and Roman settlements, the Gothic Cathedral, for which the master 19th-century French architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc conducted restorations, this year celebrates its 750th anniversary. —John Oseid, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025

The technical restoration proved complex, with materials sourced from both Mumbai warehouses and London’s Iron Mountain facility. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 23 June 2025

Note: Data is not available after early April, but restorations have slowed significantly since then. —Amy Schoenfeld Walker, New York Times, 22 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for restoration

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

restoration

noun

res·​to·​ra·​tion ˌres-tə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: an act of restoring or the condition of being restored

2

: something (as a building) that has been restored

Medical Definition

restoration

noun

res·​to·​ra·​tion ˌres-tə-ˈrā-shən 

: the act of restoring or the condition of being restored: as

a

: a returning to a normal or healthy condition

b

: the replacing of missing teeth or crowns

also : a dental replacement (as a denture) used for restoration