Meaning & use

atonement

noun·Academic

The act of making amends or reparation for a wrong or sin that someone has committed.

See it in a sentence

He offered years of quiet service to the community as atonement for his youthful mistakes.

In the novel, the character seeks atonement for a betrayal that haunted her for decades.

A note on using this word

Atonement carries a moral or religious weight, often implying genuine remorse rather than a simple apology.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “atonement”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.