Dictionary Home » Dictionary Definitions » atonement

atonement

Listen See in Thesaurus See in a sentence

In relation to Christianity, atonement is setting the example of being one with God and/or back in the good graces of God through Jesus’ sacrificial act of dying for humankind’s sins. In more general terms, atonement is any type ofrighting a wrong, creating a resolution of some type and/or repairing faith and goodness in a relationship. (noun)

An example of atonement is the Catholic practice of confessing one’s sins to a priest, being given a penance of some type, and then being forgiven and thus back in God’s good graces.
An example of atonement is when a man has been unfaithful to his wife, and after confessing he sincerely apologizes, cuts all ties with his lover, enters couples counseling, and does whatever he can to make it up to his wife and regain her trust.

See atonement in Webster's New World College Dictionary

See atonement in American Heritage Dictionary 4