What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
recompense
Example
The company offered financial recompense for the damage caused by their mistake. [recompense: noun]
Example
I want to recompense you for your help with this project. [recompense: verb]
reparation
Example
The government provided reparations to the victims of the war. [reparations: noun]
Example
He made reparations for his mistake by apologizing and offering to fix the damage. [reparations: plural noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Recompense is more commonly used than reparation in everyday language. Recompense is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while reparation is more specific and often used in legal or formal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between recompense and reparation?
Reparation is more formal than recompense. It is often used in legal or diplomatic contexts, while recompense can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
