reconcile
/ˈrek.ən.saɪl/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To make two people or groups friendly again after a disagreement. It can also mean to bring different facts, ideas, or accounts into agreement.
- They reconciled after years of conflict.
- Her story did not reconcile with the records.
- The couple tried to reconcile their differences.
Adinary Nuance
Reconcile is stronger and more formal than make up. Use make up for a personal quarrel, but use reconcile when the relationship, facts, or accounts need careful agreement. It often sounds more serious, especially in writing, business, or academic contexts.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- hòa giải
- Spanish
- reconciliar
- Chinese
- 和解
- Japanese
- 和解する
- Korean
- 화해하다
Etymology
From Latin reconciliāre, meaning “bring together again” or “win back.” It entered English through Old French in the Middle English period.
Common phrases
reconcile differencesreconcile with someonereconcile the accountsreconcile the facts
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is reconcile formal or informal?
- It is fairly formal. People use it in writing, meetings, and serious conversations.
- What is the difference between reconcile and make up?
- Make up is more casual. Reconcile is used for deeper disagreements or for facts and records.
- Can reconcile be used for facts?
- Yes. You can say facts or accounts reconcile when they fit together correctly.
- How do I use reconcile in a sentence?
- You can say, “They reconciled after the argument,” or “The figures do not reconcile.”