Skip to main content
atonement

atonement

25 7.5
A way to make things right after doing something wrong
  • noun
  • /əˈtoʊnmənt/
translation icon : expiación
  • The sermons were about atonement for sin.
  • atonement for sin
  • make atonement
  • substitutionary atonement

Now here's a second, a second thing, atonement for the crime.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • After realizing her mistake, she sought atonement by volunteering in her community.

  • I brought you something by way of atonement.

  • And they were trying to find a sense of redemption and atonement through that work.

  • He called for a day of atonement.

  • In the absence of excuses, that there must be atonement, otherwise it remains unforgivable.

  • Prayers, fasting, confession, atonement, and the recitation of the rosary all played an important role in it.

    Academic text (1990)
  • On the Day of Atonement, all Israel will meet in Jerusalem ... to observe the High Priest, Godul Cohen, make your trip the Holy of Holies.

  • The sermons focused on the theme of atonement for past sins and finding forgiveness.

  • He believed that writing an apology letter was an important step towards atonement for his actions.

Synonyms

penance
vsatonement
27 7.4

A feeling of deep regret and an action to show you are sorry

focuses on repairing harm or fixing relationships rather than inner regret
satisfaction
vsatonement
  • Formal
24 3.9

Something given or done that makes a person feel their complaint is solved

covers making things right in general rather than formal redress after complaints
reparation
vsatonement
19 6.8

Giving money or help to make up for a wrong

focuses on the act of doing such compensation rather than the payment itself
expiation
vsatonement
  • Formal
3 9.3

To do something to make up for a wrong and show you are sorry

is the same meaning but is the more common everyday term
propitiation
vsatonement
  • Formal
1 9.9

An action or gift to please someone after doing wrong, often to calm a god

aims to make things right to repair harm rather than to gain favor
amends
vsatonement
3.5

Actions or money given to make up for harm someone caused

describes the act of making those compensations rather than the items
purgation
vsatonement
  • Formal
9.9

An act that clears someone from blame or suspicion

focuses on fixing the wrong and repairing harm rather than removing blame

Compounds

A Jewish holy day when people fast, pray, and ask forgiveness

How Complete

reconciliation
114 5.3
atonement
25 7.5
reparation
19 6.8
apology
671 1.0

Surface Forms

atonement singular
atonements plural

Morphology

atonement = atone (transparent) = atone + ment

The noun is a standard nominalization of the verb 'atone' with the productive suffix '-ment', so the meaning is directly derived.

Etymology

Atonement comes from the old phrase at one, which means 'together' or 'made one'. A helpful way to remember it is to think of making two people 'one' again after a wrong, so atonement means doing something to repair harm or to make amends for a sin.