conciliation
Britishnoun
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the act or process of conciliating
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a method of helping the parties in a dispute to reach agreement, esp divorcing or separating couples to part amicably
Explanation
When you calm someone down, soothing their anger or distrust, that's conciliation. Conciliation is an important part of making peace between two warring countries. If you've had a misunderstanding with a friend that you're determined to put right, there's likely to be a tone of conciliation in your voice as you invite her to meet for lunch. You can also use conciliation to bring two other people or groups to an understanding, the way a mediator does when people get divorced, or a peacekeeper works with hostile countries. The Latin root, conciliationem, means "a connection, union, or bond," or literally, "a making friendly."
Vocabulary lists containing conciliation
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Conciliation service Acas has been mediating in the negotiations since May, but talks have broken down.
From BBC • Jul. 11, 2025
The terminations at the agency, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, have fueled concern among unions and employers alike about who will step in to help ease labor conflicts in Southern California and beyond.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 21, 2025
GM said under Mexican law it must wait for an official determination from the Federal Center for Conciliation and Labor Registration to deem the process completed.
From Reuters • May 31, 2022
Conciliation service Acas has been in touch with both parties.
From BBC • Feb. 28, 2022
Conciliation does little in the way of changing the results which are realized without it, but it lessens the frequency of strikes.
From Essentials of Economic Theory As Applied to Modern Problems of Industry and Public Policy by Clark, John Bates
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
