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reparation

noun
rep·​a·​ra·​tion | \ ˌre-pə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce reparation (audio) \

Definition of reparation

1a : a repairing or keeping in repair
b reparations plural : repairs
2a : the act of making amends, offering expiation, or giving satisfaction for a wrong or injury
b : something done or given as amends or satisfaction
3 : the payment of damages : indemnification specifically : compensation in money or materials payable by a defeated nation for damages to or expenditures sustained by another nation as a result of hostilities with the defeated nation —usually used in plural
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Examples of reparation in a Sentence

The country paid millions in reparations. They've offered no apologies and seem to have no thoughts of reparation. She says she's sorry and wants to make reparations.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 That’s why many people believe in the necessity of reparations. — Jameelah Nasheed, Teen Vogue, "What are Reparations, How Could They Happen, and Why Do They Matter?," 8 Aug. 2019 Opinions on reparations differ among those whose relatives were slaves and slave owners in Mitch McConnell's Alabama boyhood home. — Phillip M. Bailey, The Courier-Journal, "A Kentucky farmer, ex-Marine wants to challenge Mitch McConnell in 2020 US Senate race," 13 July 2019 Their embrace of slavery reparations has nothing to do with righting historical wrongs. — Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, "Knitwits and Joe Biden’s Busing History," 28 June 2019 Ahead of the hearing, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell rejected the idea of reparations. — Annalisa Merelli, Quartz, "Watch Ta-Nehisi Coates school Mitch McConnell on American history," 19 June 2019 That law, enacted in 2007, condemned the Franco regime as illegitimate, offered reparations to the victims of the Civil War and Franco’s repression, and granted Spanish citizenship to the descendants of Franco’s political refugees. — Omar G. Encarnación, The New York Review of Books, "Will Spain Be the Savior of Social Democracy in Europe?," 28 May 2019 The council directed staff to pursue litigation against opioid manufacturers and producers seeking reparations for the adverse impacts to the city and its citizens. — Laura Groch, San Diego Union-Tribune, "How they voted, Aug. 25," 25 Aug. 2019 Mr Segev describes the fierce opposition to two of his most important policies—securing German reparations for the Holocaust and launching a nuclear-weapons programme. — The Economist, "A life of David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s founding father," 22 Aug. 2019 Williamson has also taken a strong stance on reparations for African-Americans. — Anna Bauman, Detroit Free Press, "Marianne Williamson most-searched in 49 states after Democratic debate," 30 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'reparation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of reparation

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for reparation

Middle English reparacion, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin reparation-, reparatio, from Latin reparare

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More Definitions for reparation

reparation

noun
How to pronounce reparation (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of reparation

: money that a country or group that loses a war pays because of the damage, injury, deaths, etc., it has caused
formal : something that is done or given as a way of correcting a mistake that you have made or a bad situation that you have caused

See the full definition for reparation in the English Language Learners Dictionary

reparation

noun
rep·​a·​ra·​tion | \ ˌre-pə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce reparation (audio) \

Kids Definition of reparation

1 : the act of making up for a wrong
2 : something paid by a country losing a war to the winner to make up for damages done in the war

reparation

noun
rep·​a·​ra·​tion | \ ˌre-pə-ˈrā-shən How to pronounce reparation (audio) \

Legal Definition of reparation

1a : the act of making amends, offering expiation, or giving satisfaction for a wrong or injury
b : something done or given as amends or satisfaction
2 : the payment of damages specifically : compensation in money or materials payable by a defeated nation for damages to or expenditures sustained by another nation as a result of hostilities with the defeated nation —usually used in pl.

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