# reparation

/ˌɹɛpɝˈeɪʃən/ (US) · /ɹɪpɐɹˈeɪʃən/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/reparation
Updated: 2026-10-17

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Synonyms

compensation, restitution, amends, redress, atonement

## Usage notes

- Often appears in the plural as 'reparations'; singular commonly follows 'make' and takes 'for' ('make reparation for the harm').

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.