Word
atonement
Phoneticsatone·ment
US/əˈtoʊnmənt/
UK/ɐtˈəʊnmənt/
Definitions
01making amends
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Formal
n. the act of doing something to show you are sorry for a mistake or a bad thing you did.
n. the act of making amends or reparation for an offense or injury to restore a relationship.
“He spent the rest of his life in atonement for the crimes he committed as a young man.”
“The protagonist's journey serves as a profound exploration of guilt and the lifelong quest for atonement after a single, devastating lie.”
Synonyms
02religious reconciliation
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Religion Formal · Technical
n. in the Christian religion, the way that the death of Jesus brings God and people together again.
n. the reconciliation of God and humankind through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.
“The priest spoke about the meaning of atonement during the Easter service.”
“Theological debates often center on different theories of atonement and how they interpret the legal and moral relationship between the divine and the fallen.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“The process was forcing the container open, allowing a small, late act of atonement when another reader, Carolina, suggested I plant the daisies anywhere beautiful, since I had no grave to find.” “The holidays culminate in Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement: a day dedicated to reflection, fasting and repairing each person’s relationship with others – and through that, their relationship with God.” Etymology
Perhaps from atone + -ment as translation of Medieval Latin adūnāmentum; however, the noun is found earlier than the verb (atone); and in this light, the proper etymology is at + onement.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
The word in film
Atonement · 2007 · War
- Directed by:
- Joe Wright
- Starring:
- Keira Knightley, Benedict Cumberbatch, Saoirse Ronan
Joe Wright directs this 1930s drama about a young girl who tells a lie that changes several lives forever. The story follows her lifelong attempt to make up for this mistake and find forgiveness during the Second World War.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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