conciliate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal
Quick answer
What does “conciliate” mean?
To make someone less angry or hostile.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To make someone less angry or hostile; to placate.
To overcome the distrust or animosity of a person or group, often through reasoned argument, compromise, or appeasement. To reconcile, bring into agreement, or win over.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning. Slightly more common in formal British contexts (e.g., ACAS - Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service).
Connotations
Formal, deliberate, and professional in both varieties.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech for both, but appears in formal writing, law, and industrial relations. The noun 'conciliation' is more frequent than the verb.
Grammar
How to Use “conciliate” in a Sentence
conciliate somebodyconciliate between A and Battempt to conciliateVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “conciliate” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The manager's priority was to conciliate the disgruntled staff after the pay freeze was announced.
- A neutral advisor was brought in to conciliate between the feuding departments.
American English
- The senator made several concessions to conciliate her opponents on the committee.
- The contract included a clause requiring both parties to attempt to conciliate any disputes before litigation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The HR department attempted to conciliate between management and the union representatives.
Academic
The philosopher argued that the role of the state is to conciliate conflicting interests within society.
Everyday
He brought flowers to conciliate his partner after their argument.
Technical
The treaty included clauses designed to conciliate the defeated power and prevent future conflict.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “conciliate”
- Using 'conciliate' as a direct synonym for 'reconcile' (which implies restoring a relationship after estrangement).
- Misspelling as 'concilate' (missing the 'i').
- Confusing with 'conciliation' (noun) in sentence structure, e.g., 'He made a conciliation' (incorrect) vs. 'He attempted to conciliate' (correct).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Conciliate' focuses on the act of making someone less hostile or angry. 'Reconcile' often means to restore a friendly relationship after a quarrel or to make two conflicting things consistent. You conciliate a person to potentially reconcile a relationship.
No, it's a formal, C2-level word. You'll encounter it more in legal, diplomatic, academic, or formal business contexts. The noun 'conciliation' is somewhat more common, especially in terms like 'conciliation service'.
Not necessarily. While it involves making concessions to reduce hostility, it is often seen as a strategic, reasoned, and proactive approach to conflict resolution, not mere weakness. It is more neutral than 'appease', which can have negative connotations of yielding to demands.
No, this is not a standard usage. The verb is typically transitive (conciliate someone) or used with 'between' parties.
To make someone less angry or hostile.
Conciliate is usually formal in register.
Conciliate: in British English it is pronounced /kənˈsɪl.i.eɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /kənˈsɪl.i.eɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To pour oil on troubled waters (related concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CONciliate' as trying to make someone your ally (like in a CONfederation) by calming them down. It sounds like 'council' – a group that tries to settle disputes.
Conceptual Metaphor
PEACE IS A RESTORED STATE (restoring calm to a troubled relationship). CONFLICT IS HEAT (to conciliate is to cool down a heated situation).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'conciliate' LEAST likely to be used?