Atonement
/əˈtəʊnmənt/
Definitions
The act of making amends for a wrong or injury; reparation.
/əˈtəʊnmənt/
Repairing a wrong
The criminal showed remorse and sought atonement for his crimes.
💡 Simply: Fixing something you did wrong.
More Examples
A public apology was offered as an act of atonement.
How It's Used
"He sought atonement for his sins."
"The company made atonement for the environmental damage."
From Old English *ātēnung, from ātonian 'to atone'. The word's development reflects a long history of religious and moral concepts related to reconciliation and expiation.
Historically, atonement held significant religious weight, often involving rituals and sacrifices. Its secular usage has expanded to include broader concepts of amends.
Memory tip
Think 'at-one-ment' – becoming one again after a separation caused by wrongdoing.
Word Origin
"at-one-ment; the process of becoming one again after separation caused by wrongdoing."