noun

reparation

rep-uh-RAY-shun

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Reparation (noun) means Payment or other compensation made to people who have been wronged, especially by a state to a group it has harmed. Usually plural: reparations. Example: “Campaigners have long demanded reparations for slavery.”

noun

Payment or other compensation made to people who have been wronged, especially by a state to a group it has harmed. Usually plural: reparations.

"Campaigners have long demanded reparations for slavery."

"The treaty required the defeated side to pay reparations in coal and cash."

The act of making up for a wrong you have done.

"He spent years trying to make reparation to the family he had injured."

How to use reparation

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMoney or action given to make up for a serious wrong.

When to use it

Formal, and strongly associated with historical and political injustice — slavery, colonisation, war. The plural reparations is far more common than the singular.

Memory tip

Reparation and repair share a root: both are about putting something back to rights.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

repatriation → preparation → restitution →

Common pairings

pay reparations demand reparations war reparations make reparation

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “reparation” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Campaigners have long demanded _____ for slavery.

Etymology

Via Old French from Late Latin reparatio, from reparare 'to repair, restore'.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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compensation redress restitution indemnity damages amends atonement fixing fix fixture repair mending

Related words

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Rhymes for reparation

region cation ablation allusion emulsion ideation novation diffusion elocution extension oxidation perfusion

See all rhymes for reparation →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between reparations and restitution?

Restitution means giving back the specific thing that was taken — land, property, artefacts. Reparations is broader: it covers compensation for harm that cannot simply be handed back, such as lives lost or generations of lost opportunity, and is typically paid in money or programmes.

Are reparations always money?

No. Reparations packages can include formal apologies, land transfers, education and health funding, memorials and citizenship rights. Cash payments are the most discussed form but not the only one.

What is the difference between reparation and preparation?

They are unrelated. Reparation is making up for a wrong; preparation is getting ready for something. The similar spelling is a common typo.

What is the meaning of reparation?

"reparation" (noun) means payment or other compensation made to people who have been wronged, especially by a state to a group it has harmed. Usually plural: reparations.

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