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Apology vs Atonement - What's the difference?

apology | atonement |

As nouns the difference between apology and atonement

is that apology is an expression of remorse or regret for having said or done something that harmed another: an instance of apologizing (saying that one is sorry) while atonement is a repair done for the sake of a damaged relationship.

apology

English

(wikipedia apology)

Alternative forms

* apologie (archaic)

Noun

(apologies)
  • An expression of remorse or regret for having said or done something that harmed another: an instance of apologizing (saying that one is sorry).
    • What he said really hurt my feelings, but his apology sounded so sincere that I couldn't help but forgive him.
    The CEO made a public apology for the scandal, and promised full cooperation with the authorities.
  • A formal justification, defence.
    • The Apology of Socrates.
  • Anything provided as a substitute; a makeshift.
    • a poor apology for a hotel room
  • * Charles Dickens
    • He goes to work devising apologies for window curtains.

    Synonyms

    * (formal justification) apologia

    Derived terms

    * apologian, apologist, apologize, apologizer, preapology

    Related terms

    * apologetic; apologetics; apologia

    See also

    * remorse

    External links

    * *

    atonement

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A repair done for the sake of a damaged relationship.
  • The reconciliation of God and mankind through the death of Jesus.

    • Derived terms

    * blood atonement * limited atonement * vicarious atonement

    See also

    * penance, expiation * Yom Kippur (Jewish holiday) * adunatio * (pedia) English words prefixed with at-