verb
reconcile
REH-kuhn-syl
verb
1
To restore a friendly relationship between people after a disagreement.
"The two sisters reconciled after years of not speaking."
2
To make two seemingly conflicting ideas or facts fit together.
"It's hard to reconcile his kind reputation with what he actually did."
3
To check financial records so they match and any differences are explained.
"The bookkeeper reconciles the accounts at the end of each month."
How to Use Reconcile
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo patch up a relationship, make conflicting things fit together, or match up financial records.
Common pairings
reconcile differences
reconcile accounts
reconcile with someone
Word Forms
reconciled past tense, reconciles singular
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Etymology
From Latin reconciliare, built from re- ("again") and conciliare ("to bring together, unite") — the same root that gives us "council" and "conciliate."