noun

reconciliation

rek-un-sil-ee-AY-shuhn/ˌrekənsɪliˈeɪʃn/

The resolution of differences into agreement.

The neighbors' reconciliation lets them repair their shared fence together.

Two neighbors smile and jointly mend a low shared garden fence after a disagreement; a small pale earlier vignette shows the same pair looking away from each other across the broken fence, now working together in harmony.

Etymology

reLatinagain

+conciliLatinmake friendly

+ationLatinaction or process

The pieces express the act of making friendly again. Reconciliation therefore names renewed friendship or accord after disagreement or estrangement, rather than simply an initial friendly encounter.

In context

United States Institute of Peace9:19

the word political settlement or reconciliation has now become almost accepted by all sides. So nobody is saying that we're going to win militarily. Everybody's saying we're going to go to a political settlement.

U.S. Leverage in South Asia

More examples

Both sides hope for reconciliation after their bitter dispute.
Reconciliation of the two theories requires a new approach.
Monthly reconciliation of bank records helps us catch missing payments.

Forms

reconciliation · reconciliations

reconcile verb — To restore harmony or resolve differences.

Similar words

settlement: Emphasizes ending a dispute, not necessarily restoring friendly relations.
resolution: Emphasizes solving a problem rather than bringing differences into agreement.