What does conciliatorily mean?
'Conciliatorily' is a formal English adverb meaning 'in a manner intended to placate or make peace.' It describes actions—speech, gestures, responses—performed with the goal of calming anger or mending a strained relationship, as when a negotiator speaks conciliatorily to opposing parties or a manager responds conciliatorily to criticism. The word derives from the Latin verb 'conciliare,' meaning to bring together or unite, which also gives us 'conciliate,' 'conciliatory,' and 'conciliation.' Because it is long and unwieldy, it is relatively uncommon outside formal contexts such as diplomacy, law, and political reporting, where writers need to characterize behavior precisely. Its connotation is positive but strategic: acting conciliatorily signals goodwill and a desire to de-escalate rather than to dominate. Learners will more often encounter the related adjective 'conciliatory,' using the adverb mainly when precision about how an action was carried out matters.
adverbIn a manner intended to placate, pacify, or win over someone who is angry or displeased; done with the aim of ending a disagreement or restoring goodwill.
- In a manner intended to appease, pacify, or restore friendly relations with someone who is angry or aggrieved.
"When the negotiations stalled, she spoke conciliatorily to both sides in an effort to keep talks alive."
"Facing an angry crowd of shareholders, the chairman answered their complaints conciliatorily rather than defensively."
"He raised both hands and smiled conciliatorily, hoping to defuse the argument before it turned ugly."
Born from the Latin for 'to bring together,' this rare adverb is what diplomats do when they'd rather end a fight than win one.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of conciliatorily
'Conciliatorily' is formed by adding the adverbial suffix '-ly' to the adjective 'conciliatory,' which derives from the Latin verb 'conciliare' ('to bring together, unite, win over'), itself rooted in 'concilium' ('assembly, meeting'), from 'com-' ('together') plus 'calare' ('to summon'). The adjective entered English in the early 17th century, and the adverb followed later as a derived form. Its cognates include 'conciliate,' 'conciliation,' and 'conciliator,' all sharing the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How conciliatorily is actually used
'Conciliatorily' is a formal, somewhat rare word; it appears mostly in diplomatic, legal, and journalistic writing. In everyday speech, speakers usually prefer phrases like 'in a conciliatory tone' over the adverb form.
Easily confused with conciliatorily
'Conciliatory' is the adjective describing something that aims to calm or appease (a conciliatory tone), while 'conciliatorily' is the adverb describing how an action is performed (she acted conciliatorily).