Standard Lemma guide

propitiatory

adj · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /pɹəʊˈpɪʃɪətəɹɪ/
  • UK: /pɹəˈpɪʃɪətɹi/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: /pɹəˈpɪʃi.əˌtɔɹi/
  • US: /pɹoʊˈpɪʃi.əˌtɔɹi/

1

adj

Meaning 1

Intended to propitiate, reconcile, expiate or appease; conciliatory.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: propitiary

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective

Meaning 2

having power to atone for or offered by way of expiation or propitiation

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • expiatory (or propitiatory) sacrifice

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: expiatory, expiative

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

intended to reconcile or appease

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • sent flowers as a propitiatory gesture

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: propitiative

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From the Latin propitiātōrius (“atoning; reconciling, propitiating”).