Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act of making amends or reparation for a wrong or injury; expiation: This refers to the action of correcting a past mistake or sin, often with the implication of restoring a relationship or balance.
   • (In religious contexts) The reconciliation of God and humankind through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ: This is a specific theological concept in Christianity.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • He made a generous donation as an atonement for his past mistakes.
  • The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) is the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.
  • In Christian theology, the crucifixion is seen as an act of atonement.

Advanced Usage

• "To make atonement for": to do something to show you are sorry for a wrong you have done.
  • She sought to make atonement for her harsh words by apologizing sincerely.
• "Blood atonement": a historical Mormon doctrine concerning punishment for serious sins.
  • The concept of blood atonement is no longer part of mainstream Latter-day Saint teaching.

Variants and Related Words

• Atone (verb): to make amends or reparation.
  • He spent his life trying to atone for his crime.
• Atonable (adjective): capable of being atoned for.
• Atoner (noun): a person who atones.

Synonyms

• Expiation: the act of making amends for wrongdoing.
• Reparation: the making of amends for a wrong one has done.
• Penance: voluntary self-punishment to atone for a sin.

Related Phrases

• Day of Atonement: the English name for Yom Kippur.
• Vicarious atonement: the idea that one person can atone for the sins of others, central to the Christian concept of Jesus's sacrifice.

Noun

1. the act of atoning for sin or wrongdoing (especially appeasing a deity)
2. compensation for a wrong
   • we were unable to get satisfaction from the local store