adjective

expiatory

EK-spee-uh-tor-ee/ˈɛkspiəˌtɔri/

Intended to make amends for guilt or wrongdoing.

The replacement plant is an expiatory gift for damaging the neighbor's original one.

A South Asian adult offers replacement plant and apologetic note to neighbor beside previously damaged plant; no legible note text.

Etymology

exLatincompletely

+piaLatinpropitiate, appease

+toryLatinserving to

The appeasement base developed the sense “make amends,” and the adjective describes something serving that purpose. An expiatory act is therefore intended to atone for wrongdoing.

In context

Tetze Torah Ministries53:37

back in those days the expiatory sacrifices jps concludes are required for inadvertent transgressions

Torah Observant: Towards Understanding Sacrifices and Atonement (Video 4 of 12)

More examples

She makes an expiatory donation to the charity she defrauded.
The ceremony includes an expiatory offering for past wrongs.
He treats his volunteer work as an expiatory act, not a hobby.

Forms

expiate verb — To make amends for guilt or wrongdoing.

expiation noun — The act of making amends for wrongdoing.

Similar words

penitential: Emphasizes expressing repentance rather than making amends for wrongdoing.
reparative: Focuses on repairing harm, not necessarily dealing with guilt.