restitution

Restitution is payment or some other form of compensation that is given to make up for loss, damage, or injury that has been caused.

Restitution can also refer to the act or process of compensating someone in this way.

The point of restitution is to return what has been lost or stolen or to repair the damage or injury that has been done so that things can be returned to how they originally were or as close as possible.

The word is especially used in a legal context to refer to compensation that is required by someone who has caused loss, damage, or injury as part of a crime. Restitution often involves monetary payments, but it can involve other forms of compensation.

Example: The defendant was ordered to pay $1 million dollars in restitution to compensate for injuries and property damage. 

The first records of the word restitution come from the 1300s. It comes from the Latin verb rēstituere, meaning “to rebuild.”

Some injuries and damage can’t be undone, but the goal of restitution is to try to return things to their original state as much as is possible. When someone is ordered to pay restitution by a court, it often includes payment not only to the victim but also to the state, such as for court costs.

The word reparations is sometimes used interchangeably with restitution and refers to forms of restitution or compensation provided to those who have suffered wrongdoing or to their descendents. The word reparations is sometimes thought to be inappropriate for the type of compensation sought by some groups, who may consider it a payment of an existing debt, rather than a form of restitution.

What are some other forms related to restitution?

• restitutive (adjective)
• restitutory (adjective)
• restitute (verb)

What are some synonyms for restitution?

• reparation
• redress
• compensation
• repayment
• indemnification

What are some words that share a root or word element with restitution? 

• institution
• destitution

What are some words that often get used in discussing restitution?

• order
• pay
• payment
• compensate
• make
• amends
• damage
• loss
• injury
• property
• return
• court
• lawsuit

Restitution is most commonly used in a legal context that involves someone being ordered to compensate someone else for loss, damage, or injury.

DOT OIG #investigation leads to Wisconsin company executives being ordered to pay $3.9M in restitution for illegally storing #hazmat https://t.co/CxTXlywrU7

— U.S. DOT OIG (@DOTInspectorGen) February 10, 2021

That money can’t even begin to compensate for the utter destruction of a man’s livelihood. When taking responsibility for wrongdoing, you make restitution. The person wronged is made whole first—then you can invest money in institutions whose objective is to end racism.

— Felicia Middlebrooks (@FeliciaConnects) February 9, 2021

Without Restitution there cannot be true reconciliation.

— Clement Ibe (@clementibe) March 20, 2020

Which of the following words is a synonym of restitution?

A. redress
B. repayment
C. compensation
D. all of the above