Redemption
noun /rɪˈdemp.ʃən/ — The act of being saved or freed from sin or error
Definition
The action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil — or, more broadly, the act of regaining something lost through payment, effort, or sacrifice.
Beyond the definition
The possibility of being made new. Redemption is the word for the hope that what was ruined can be restored, that the worst moments of a life do not define it entirely.
Origin & history
From Latin 'redemptio' (a buying back) — from 'redimere' (to buy back) — 're' (back) + 'emere' (to buy). To buy back what was lost. The same root as 'ransom'.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The narrative arc of redemption is one of the most enduring in literature — the fall and the return.
He found a kind of redemption in the work — not absolution exactly, but the sense that something was being rebuilt.
Redemption requires both the wrong and the possibility of repair: the concept has no meaning without both.
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 “Redemption” when the meaning fits your context: The action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil — or, more broadly, the act of regaining something lost through payment, effort, or sacrifice.
Synonyms
Antonyms
damnation, loss, corruption
Related words
Redemption vs salvation
Redemption suggests buying back or recovering one's status after a fall or failure. Salvation is the ultimate deliverance from danger, ruin, or the overarching power of sin itself.
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 Bowl with Gold
An artist works with concentration to fuse a broken bowl with gold, creating a new, stronger, and more valuable state.
The act of regaining the integrity of the bowl through effortful repair symbolizes redemption—the saving of something lost or broken through work.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Redemption" mean?
Redemption is noun meaning: The act of being saved or freed from sin or error. The action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil — or, more broadly, the act of regaining something lost through payment, effort, or sacrifice.
Where does the word "Redemption" come from?
From Latin 'redemptio' (a buying back) — from 'redimere' (to buy back) — 're' (back) + 'emere' (to buy). To buy back what was lost. The same root as 'ransom'.