propitiatory: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2 - Very Low FrequencyFormal, Literary
Quick answer
What does “propitiatory” mean?
Intended to win back someone's goodwill or favour after causing offence or displeasure.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Intended to win back someone's goodwill or favour after causing offence or displeasure.
Having the nature of an act intended to appease or conciliate, especially a deity or a higher power.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or grammatical differences. Usage is equally rare and formal in both varieties.
Connotations
Carries the same religious/historical or highly formal literary connotations in both UK and US English.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both corpuses. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British academic/theological texts due to historical influence.
Grammar
How to Use “propitiatory” in a Sentence
[be] + propitiatory + [towards + deity/person][act/gesture/offering] + of + a propitiatory + natureserved a propitiatory functionVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “propitiatory” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The priest sought to propitiate the angry deity.
- He made a grand gesture to propitiate his offended colleagues.
American English
- The tribe performed a ritual to propitiate the spirits of the forest.
- The CEO's speech was designed to propitiate the disgruntled shareholders.
adverb
British English
- He smiled propitiatorily, hoping to smooth things over. (Very rare)
American English
- She nodded propitiatorily, attempting to defuse the tension. (Very rare)
adjective
British English
- The villagers left propitiatory offerings at the ancient shrine.
- His letter had a distinctly propitiatory tone.
American English
- The propitiatory rites were conducted at dawn.
- She sent flowers as a propitiatory gesture after the argument.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used. In extreme cases of stakeholder management, one might refer to a 'propitiatory gesture' towards regulators, but 'conciliatory' is standard.
Academic
Used in theology, anthropology, classical studies, and history to describe rituals or actions intended to appease gods or spirits.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would sound archaic or pretentious.
Technical
Specific to religious studies and related anthropological fields.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “propitiatory”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “propitiatory”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “propitiatory”
- Misspelling: 'propiti*e*tory' (adding an extra 'e').
- Confusing with 'proprietary' (relating to ownership).
- Using it in informal contexts where 'apologetic' or 'conciliatory' is appropriate.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Propitiatory' focuses on appeasing or winning back the favour of an external being (a god, a person). 'Expiatory' focuses on atoning for or cleansing oneself of guilt or sin. The actions may overlap, but the emphasis differs.
It is highly discouraged due to its formal, literary, and specialised nature. Words like 'apologetic', 'conciliatory', or 'peacemaking' are far more natural and understandable in everyday contexts.
In academic/religious texts, 'offering' and 'sacrifice' are among the most common collocations (e.g., 'a propitiatory offering').
It is neutral in denotation, describing an intention. However, it can carry a negative connotation of being insincere, merely tactical, or superstitious, depending on context (e.g., 'a propitiatory gesture' might imply it's not heartfelt).
Intended to win back someone's goodwill or favour after causing offence or displeasure.
Propitiatory is usually formal, literary in register.
Propitiatory: in British English it is pronounced /prəˈpɪʃ.i.ə.tər.i/, and in American English it is pronounced /prəˈpɪʃ.i.ə.tɔːr.i/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific. The word itself is used in formal/literary descriptions.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a PRIEST offering a PI(E) to a TORY politician to win favour. PRO-PI(e)-TIAT-ORY = Propitiatory.
Conceptual Metaphor
GOODWILL IS A DEBT (that can be repaid through offerings). CONFLICT IS A FIRE (that can be put out by appeasing actions).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'propitiatory' most appropriately used?