re
pa
ra
tion
Plural
reparations
1
an act or payment made to atone for a wrongdoing or injury, as a form of justice or reconciliation
- The government issued reparations to victims of past injustices.
- He made reparation by returning the stolen property and apologizing.
- His donation was a symbolic reparation for the damage caused.
- She viewed her volunteer work as personal reparation for past mistakes.
- The treaty included clauses for reparation to affected communities.
Synonyms:
2
the repairing or mending of damage or defect
- The bridge remained closed during its reparation.
- Skilled craftsmen handled the reparation of the antique clock.
- After the storm, the town began the reparation of damaged roads.
- The museum funded the reparation of a torn historical map.
- Engineers worked overnight on the reparation of the power line.
3
compensation demanded from a defeated nation by the victors, to make amends for war damages or losses
- After World War I, Germany was required to pay heavy reparations under the Treaty of Versailles.
- The victors imposed reparations to rebuild their war-torn economies.
- Reparations strained the defeated country's finances for decades.
- The debate over reparations shaped postwar diplomacy.
- Some historians argue that excessive reparations fueled political unrest.