Word
reparation
Phoneticsrepa·ra·tion
US/ˌɹɛpɝˈeɪʃən/
UK/ɹɪpɐɹˈeɪʃən/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. money, help, or an apology you give to make up for harm or damage you caused. You often see the plural form when groups or countries talk about fixing past wrongs.
n. compensation, typically in money, services, or formal apology, offered to make amends for wrongdoing, damage, or loss. Most frequently encountered in the plural when referring to settlements for historical or wartime harms.
Examples
“He offers reparation for the damage to the car.”
“After the spill, the company paid reparation to local fishermen whose livelihoods suffered for months.”
“Debates over historical injustice often turn on whether financial reparation alone can restore dignity without acknowledgment, apology, and structural reform.”
Examples
simple
“He offers reparation for the damage to the car.”
contextual
“After the spill, the company paid reparation to local fishermen whose livelihoods suffered for months.”
complex
“Debates over historical injustice often turn on whether financial reparation alone can restore dignity without acknowledgment, apology, and structural reform.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “reparation” in context.
Verb
01. award reparations
“The tribunal awarded reparations to families who lost their homes.”
verb + noun
02. call for reparations
“Activists continue to call for reparations for colonial exploitation.”
verb + prep + noun
03. campaign for reparations
“Survivor groups are campaigning for reparations ahead of the election.”
verb + prep + noun
04. make reparations
“The government promised to make reparations to displaced communities.”
verb + noun
Adjective
05. adequate reparation
“Many survivors feel they never received adequate reparation for their suffering.”
adj + noun
06. financial reparation
“The company offered financial reparation to customers affected by the scandal.”
adj + noun
07. full reparation
“The court ordered full reparation to all victims of the fraud.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. act of reparation
“Returning the stolen artefacts was an act of reparation.”
noun + prep + noun
09. form of reparation
“Community service was ordered as a form of reparation.”
noun + prep + noun
10. call for full reparations
“Protesters called for full reparations during the march in London.”
11. demand reparations for past wrongs
“Caribbean leaders continue to demand reparations for past wrongs.”
12. make reparation for the damage
“The firm agreed to make reparation for the damage caused by the spill.”
Usage
Often appears in the plural as 'reparations'; singular commonly follows 'make' and takes 'for' ('make reparation for the harm').
Real-World Examples
“A U.N. committee said countries are legally obliged to consider reparations for the transatlantic slave trade and take other measures to address the enduring legacy of racial discrimination it says persists today.” “The concept of reparations is not a novel one and has been utilized globally to compensate individuals affected by war, sexual violence, terrorism, and various historical injustices.” “On Wednesday, the Greek parliament made a pivotal decision to initiate a diplomatic effort aimed at urging Germany to pay billions of euros in reparations for its occupation during World War II, a matter that Berlin contends was resolved long ago.” “Bryan and other supporters are calling it environmental reparations and say it is a model that could be replicated to make industrial companies help repair the damage borne by people living closest to polluting sites.” Etymology
Borrowed from Latin reparātiō, reparātiōnis.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Related words
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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