Atonement
noun /əˈtəʊn.mənt/ — Reparation for wrongdoing; reconciliation
Definition
Reparation made for a wrong or injury — making amends in a way that restores the broken relationship or moral order. In religion, the reconciliation of humanity with God through sacrifice.
Beyond the definition
The attempt to repair what was broken. Atonement is more than apology — it requires action, cost, an actual attempt to put right what was made wrong. It is the word for when sorry is not enough.
Origin & history
From 'at one' + '-ment' — the state of being 'at one', reconciled. A uniquely English word: to atone is to be made at-one again with what you offended. First attested in the 16th century.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
His years of charitable work were widely read as atonement — for what exactly, he never said.
Christian theology of atonement: Christ's death as the repair of the rupture between humanity and God.
Atonement requires an acknowledgment of the wrong — you cannot make amends for something you haven't admitted.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Atonement” when the meaning fits your context: Reparation made for a wrong or injury — making amends in a way that restores the broken relationship or moral order. In religion, the reconciliation of humanity with God through sacrifice.
Synonyms
expiation, amends, reparation, reconciliation, penance
Antonyms
offense, wrong, rupture
Related words
Atonement vs redemption
Atonement is the action taken by the wrongdoer to satisfy the demands of justice. Redemption is the resulting state of being saved or rescued from the consequences of that previous error.
Compare this word
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Repairing Pottery with Gold
An artist carefully repairs a broken pottery bowl with visible gold seams, focusing on restoring the broken object to wholeness.
The deliberate effort to repair what is broken and restore the object's wholeness acts as a visual metaphor for atonement—making amends to restore a broken state.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Atonement" mean?
Atonement is noun meaning: Reparation for wrongdoing; reconciliation. Reparation made for a wrong or injury — making amends in a way that restores the broken relationship or moral order. In religion, the reconciliation of humanity with God through sacrifice.
Where does the word "Atonement" come from?
From 'at one' + '-ment' — the state of being 'at one', reconciled. A uniquely English word: to atone is to be made at-one again with what you offended. First attested in the 16th century.