To reconcile means to restore a friendly relationship after a disagreement or fight. When two friends reconcile after an argument, they talk things through, forgive each other, and become friends again. The process of reconciling often requires both people to admit their mistakes, listen to each other's feelings, and decide that their friendship matters more than being right.

The word also means to make two different things work together or agree with each other. When you reconcile your bank statement, you're checking that the amount of money the bank says you have matches what you think you have. A scientist might need to reconcile two different theories that seem to contradict each other, finding a way to explain how both could be true.

Reconciliation is the noun form. After a civil war, a country might go through a period of reconciliation, where former enemies work to heal and rebuild trust. Reconciling can also mean accepting that two things you believe are both true, even when they seem to conflict. A student might need to reconcile loving video games with knowing they need more time for homework.