Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

atonement

/əˈtoʊnmənt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.09 in modern English

Syllables: atone-ment
IPA: /əˈtoʊnmənt/

11

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Making amends to restore a damaged relationship; expiation.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

The reconciliation of God and mankind through the death of Jesus.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

Reconciliation; restoration of friendly relations; concord.

Archaic; Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

"When a man has been guilty of any vice, the best atonement he can make for it is, to warn others."
"1697-1698, John Potter, Archaeologia Graeca The Phocians behaved themselves with so much gallantry, that they were thought to have made a sufficient atonement for their former offense."
"by whom we have now received the atonement"
"He desires to make atonement Betwixt the Duke of Gloucester and your brothers."

Etymology

Perhaps from atone + -ment as translation of Medieval Latin adūnāmentum; however, the noun is found earlier than the verb (atone); and in this light, the proper etymology is at + onement.

Word Breakdown

Suffix: atone

Usage

Inflected Forms

atonements (plural)

Derived Forms

antiatonement nonatonement

Phrases

blood atonement general atonement limited atonement substitutionary atonement unlimited atonement vicarious atonement Yom Kippur

Frequently Paired Words

penance penitance expiation reconciliation conciliation Yom Kippur adunatio atone

Synonyms

compensation indemnification assyth atonement expiation redress piation propitiation refaction

Antonyms

nonatonement

Rhymes With

postponement

Questions

How do you pronounce atonement?: The recorded pronunciation is /əˈtoʊnmənt/.
What does atonement mean?: Making amends to restore a damaged relationship; expiation.
Where does atonement come from?: Perhaps from atone + -ment as translation of Medieval Latin adūnāmentum; however, the noun is found earlier than the verb (atone); and in this light, the proper etymology is at + onement.

How to pronounce atonement

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “atonement”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/əˈtoʊnmənt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “atonement”.
Repeat and practice — Say “atonement” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.