Definition

An act or offering made to please a god or to make up for a wrong done, often to seek forgiveness or favor.

Example

In ancient cultures, propitiation was often performed through sacrifices to appease the gods.

Conversation

I was reading about ancient rituals and came across the term propitiation.

Oh really? What does it mean exactly?

It's basically a way to appease a god, often through a sacrifice or offering.

That’s interesting! I didn’t know there were so many different practices.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Propitiation → It is formed from "propitius" (meaning favorable) and the suffix "-ation" (indicating an action or process). The word refers to the act of appeasing or making favorable, especially in a religious context.

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'propitious' which means favorable, and remember that 'propitiation' is the action of making something favorable, often in terms of appeasing a deity.

Visually Confused Words