atonement

[uh-tohn-muhnt]

noun

1. satisfaction or reparation for a wrong or injury; amends.

2. (sometimes initial capital letter),  the doctrine concerning the reconciliation of God and humankind, especially as accomplished through the life, suffering, and death of Christ.

3. Christian Science.,  the experience of humankind's unity with God exemplified by Jesus Christ.

4. Archaic.,  reconciliation; agreement.

atonement

/ əˈtəʊnmənt /

noun

1. satisfaction, reparation, or expiation given for an injury or wrong

2. (often capital) Christian theol

   1. the reconciliation of man with God through the life, sufferings, and sacrificial death of Christ

   2. the sufferings and death of Christ

3. Christian Science the state in which the attributes of God are exemplified in man

4. obsolete,  reconciliation or agreement

Word History and Origins

Origin of atonement¹

First recorded in 1505–15; from phrase at one, at oon “in harmony” + -ment, as translation of Medieval Latin adūnāmentum; compare Middle English onement “unity”

Word History and Origins

Origin of atonement¹

C16: from Middle English phrase at onement in harmony

Example Sentences

In all fairness, we don’t know what level of atonement Pitt has made over the years.

From Salon

“There is and will not be any atonement for abandoning the captives,” he said.

From BBC

It does not cost anything, just a public act of atonement for past sins.

From BBC

Kalyan is also performing what he called 11 days of atonement rituals to rectify the "great injustice".

From BBC

He’s continued to use this language that evokes the theological logic of substitutionary atonement, where he bravely offers himself to be sacrificed on behalf of his followers.

From Salon

Related Words

• penance 
• redemption 
• reparation