conciliation
gb/kənsˌɪliˈeɪʃən/ us/kənsˌɪliˈeɪʃən/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
formal
C1
process
1
making peace after a dispute
the act of making people friendly again after a fight
Usage pattern:
conciliation between [people/groups/countries]
Common mistake:
Often confused with reconciliation; conciliation emphasizes the effort to create peace, sometimes before full reconciliation happens.
Synonyms
reconciliation (Often suggests a fuller restoration of a relationship after conflict.)
|
peace-making (More general and less formal.)
|
rapprochement (Common in international relations; emphasizes improved relations.)
Antonyms
confrontation (Direct opposition rather than calming a dispute.)
|
hostility (Ongoing anger or opposition between sides.)
|
escalation (A situation becoming more serious or intense.)
Collocations
seek conciliation
|promote conciliation
|a policy of conciliation
|conciliation between the sides
|conciliation with former enemies
|an attempt at conciliation
|gesture of conciliation
|talks aimed at conciliation
|conciliation efforts
|spirit of conciliation
Themes
relationships
|conflict
|politics
|communication
Examples
- The new leader called for conciliation after months of protests.
- Both sides signaled conciliation by agreeing to meet without preconditions.
- Her public apology was a step toward conciliation within the team.
Learner examples
- They wanted conciliation after the argument.
- The meeting was for conciliation.
Noun
legal
C2
process
2
formal help to settle a dispute
an official process to help people agree
Usage pattern:
conciliation of [a dispute/claim] | conciliation between [party A] and [party B]
Common mistake:
Not the same as arbitration: in conciliation the parties choose whether to accept proposals; arbitration usually ends with a binding decision.
Synonyms
mediation (More common everyday term; the mediator may not propose specific terms.)
|
negotiation (Does not necessarily involve a neutral third party.)
Antonyms
litigation (Resolving a dispute through court action instead of settlement.)
|
arbitration (Often leads to a binding decision by an arbitrator.)
Collocations
enter conciliation
|a conciliation process
|a conciliation procedure
|conciliation agreement
|conciliation session
|conciliation meeting
|a conciliation officer
|a conciliation body
|conciliation in employment disputes
|formal conciliation
Themes
law
|work
|business
|government
Examples
- The tribunal required the parties to attempt conciliation before a hearing.
- They reached a settlement through conciliation with an independent officer.
- The company requested conciliation to resolve the wage dispute.
Learner examples
- We tried conciliation to settle the dispute.
Noun
formal
C1
action
3
a calming or appeasing act
something you do to calm someone
Usage pattern:
an act/gesture of conciliation (toward [someone])
Common mistake:
Often mixed up with 'appeasement'; conciliation can be positive and mutual, while appeasement can imply giving in too much.
Synonyms
appeasement (Can imply giving in to avoid conflict, sometimes seen as negative.)
|
placation (Focuses on calming anger, often temporarily.)
Antonyms
provocation (An act that makes someone angrier or increases tension.)
|
defiance (Refusal to cooperate or yield when conflict exists.)
Collocations
a gesture of conciliation
|an offer of conciliation
|a sign of conciliation
|a move toward conciliation
|attempts at conciliation
|words of conciliation
|a conciliatory tone
|seek conciliation from
|make conciliation
|show conciliation
Themes
emotions
|communication
|relationships
Examples
- He offered a small concession as a gesture of conciliation.
- Her letter was meant as conciliation, not an admission of fault.
- The manager’s tone shifted from criticism to conciliation.
Learner examples
- I made a gesture of conciliation.
Grammar
Dictionary form
conciliation
IPA
GB/kənsˌɪliˈeɪʃən/
US/kənsˌɪliˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
con - cili - ation (3 syllables)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: conciliation
- Plural: conciliation
Word family
Core family
conciliate
verb
conciliatory
adjective C1
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
unconciliatory
adjective
irreconcilable
adjective
Advanced or less common
conciliative
adjective
reconcilable
adjective
Expressions
conciliation and arbitration
1/kənsˌɪliˈeɪʃən ˈænd ˌɑɹbɪtɹˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
legal
industrial dispute settlement methods
official ways to settle work disputes
Examples
- The contract requires conciliation and arbitration before any strike action.
- Their pay dispute was resolved through conciliation and arbitration.
- The union cited conciliation and arbitration procedures in its complaint.
conciliation commission
1/kənsˌɪliˈeɪʃən kəmˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
official group helping resolve disputes
an official group that helps people agree
Examples
- A conciliation commission was formed to address the border dispute.
- The conciliation commission issued proposals for a settlement.
- Both sides accepted the conciliation commission’s timetable.
conciliation meeting
1/kənsˌɪliˈeɪʃən mˈitɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
meeting to reach agreement
a meeting to try to settle a dispute
Examples
- They scheduled a conciliation meeting for next Tuesday.
- At the conciliation meeting, both sides agreed on a payment plan.
- The conciliation meeting ended without a settlement.
conciliation proceedings
1/kənsˌɪliˈeɪʃən pɹoʊsˈidɪŋz/
fixed phrase
legal
official conciliation process steps
official meetings to try to agree
Examples
- Conciliation proceedings began after the complaint was filed.
- The judge paused the case to allow conciliation proceedings.
- They attended conciliation proceedings with their lawyers.
conciliation service
1/kənsˌɪliˈeɪʃən sˈɚvɪs/
fixed phrase
formal
organization providing conciliation
an office that helps people agree
Examples
- They contacted the conciliation service to avoid a court case.
- The conciliation service arranged a meeting between the parties.
- A conciliation service can help settle disputes quickly.
conciliation talks
1/kənsˌɪliˈeɪʃən tˈɔks/
fixed phrase
formal
negotiations to reduce conflict
talks to make peace
Examples
- Conciliation talks resumed after a week of violence.
- The minister offered to host conciliation talks in the capital.
- Both parties agreed to conciliation talks led by a neutral chair.
early conciliation
1/ˈɚli kənsˌɪliˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
legal
conciliation before a legal claim
trying to settle before going to court
Examples
- She started early conciliation to try to resolve the dismissal dispute.
- The deadline was paused while early conciliation was underway.
- Many claims settle during early conciliation.