Atonement | Definition of Atonement by Merriam-Webster
\ 1 : reparation for an offense or injury : satisfaction a story of sin and atonement He wanted to find a way to make atonement for his sins. 2 : the reconciliation of God and humankind through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ
3 Christian Science : the exemplifying of human oneness with God
Examples of atonement in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web The High Holy Days are a time of prayer, reflection, repentance and atonement. — al, "High Holy Days end with Yom Kippur, including service in Birmingham Botanical Gardens," 28 Sep. 2020 This year Yom Kippur, the day of atonement in the Jewish calendar, begins at sunset on Sunday 27th September. — refinery29.com, "6 Little-Known Rules For Observing Yom Kippur," 27 Sep. 2020 Every year, businesses shut down, roads empty out and even radio and TV stations go silent as the faithful fast for 25 hours and hold intensive prayers of atonement on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. — Joseph Krauss, Anchorage Daily News, "Israelis mark Yom Kippur under ‘painful’ virus lockdown," 27 Sep. 2020 Every year, businesses shut down, roads empty out and even radio and TV stations go silent as the faithful fast for 25 hours and hold intensive prayers of atonement on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. — Bloomberg.com, "Israelis Mark Yom Kippur Under ‘Painful’ Virus Lockdown," 27 Sep. 2020 Every year, businesses shut down, roads empty out and even radio and TV stations go silent as the faithful fast for 25 hours and hold intensive prayers of atonement on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. — Joseph Krauss, Star Tribune, "Israelis mark Yom Kippur under 'painful' virus lockdown," 27 Sep. 2020 After harming or even executing the scapegoat, the society can create myths of atonement that sanctify social structures. — Michael A. Vargas, The Conversation, "Sacred violence is not yet ancient history – beating it will take human action, not divine intervention," 25 Sep. 2020 For a community that has been marking its day of atonement since biblical times, the age of coronavirus won’t derail the holiest of days. — Erin Blakemore, National Geographic, "Why Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Jewish year," 25 Sep. 2020 Blessings to all during the observance of this holy day of atonement. — Brenda Yenke, cleveland, "The appeal of miniatures and local pottery: Yenke Peddler antiques," 24 Sep. 2020These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'atonement.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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First Known Use of atonement
1513, in the meaning defined at sense 4
History and Etymology for atonement
see atone
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Cite this Entry
“Atonement.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/atonement. Accessed 24 Oct. 2020.
More Definitions for atonement
atone·ment | \ ə-ˈtōn-mənt \ Kids Definition of atonement
: a making up for an offense or injury
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