Meaning & use
reparations
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Meanings
nounplural
Money or other help given to a group or country to make up for harm or damage caused in the past.
Grammar: Used as a plural noun; it does not have a singular form in this sense.
Patterns
- pay reparations
- reparations for something
- reparations to someone
After the war, the country agreed to pay reparations to the victims.
The court ordered the company to make reparations for the pollution it caused.
Campaigners are calling for reparations for slavery.
nounpluralformalrare
The act of repairing something or the state of being repaired.
Grammar: Rare and formal; usually used in the singular 'reparation' for this meaning.
Patterns
- make reparations
- reparations to something
The building was closed for reparations after the earthquake.
They made urgent reparations to the bridge before winter.
Common combinations
- pay reparations
- The government refused to pay reparations to the families.
- war reparations
- Germany paid war reparations after World War I.
- reparations for slavery
- The debate about reparations for slavery continues today.
- demand reparations
- Protesters demanded reparations for the victims of the disaster.
- reparations to victims
- The fund provides reparations to victims of crime.
Synonyms and how they differ
- compensation
- Compensation is money paid to someone for loss or injury, often by an employer or insurer; reparations is wider and usually involves a government or historical wrong.
- damages
- Damages is a legal term for money a court orders someone to pay; reparations is more political or moral.
- restitution
- Restitution means giving back what was taken or paying for it; it is often used in legal contexts and is narrower than reparations.
Commonly confused: reparations or reparation? reparations or reparations?
reparations vs reparation
Reparation is the singular form and can mean the act of repairing or a single payment; reparations is almost always plural when talking about compensation for a wrong.
reparations vs reparations
Do not confuse with 'preparations' (getting ready) — the meanings are completely different.
Practice
The country was ordered to pay ______ to the families of the victims.
Choose one answer.
The plural 'reparations' is the standard noun for money paid to make up for harm. 'Reparation' is singular and less common in this sense; 'reparative' is an adjective; 'repair' means fixing something physical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “reparations”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.