reparations
8 synonyms and 0 antonyms for reparations, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — Payments or other compensation made to a group of people, usually by a state or institution, for a historical injustice done to them or their ancestors, such as slavery, colonial rule or genocide.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
Payments or other compensation made to a group of people, usually by a state or institution, for a historical injustice done to them or their ancestors, such as slavery, colonial rule or genocide.
“Campaigners are demanding reparations for the descendants of enslaved people.”
2. noun
Money and goods a defeated country is required to pay to the victors after a war to cover the damage it caused.
“The Treaty of Versailles imposed crushing reparations on Germany.”
3. noun usually singular: reparation
The act of making amends for a wrong you have done.
“He offered to work weekends as reparation for the damage.”
How to Use Reparations
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Formal; frequent in political, legal and historical writing.
Etymology
From Latin reparare "to restore, repair", from re- "again" and parare "to make ready".
Full origin of reparations →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between reparations and restitution?
Restitution means returning the actual thing that was taken, such as stolen land, art or property. Reparations are broader compensation for harm that cannot simply be handed back, such as payments, programmes or services for a wronged group.
Are reparations always money?
No. Reparations can take the form of formal apologies, land transfers, scholarships, healthcare, memorials or debt cancellation. Cash payments are the most discussed form but not the only one.