pojednanie

Pojednanie is a Polish noun meaning reconciliation or settlement. It denotes the process and outcome of resolving a dispute through mutual agreement, with the aim of restoring relations and ending hostilities. The term is used across legal, social, and political contexts, as well as in everyday language to describe forgiving past grievances and coming to terms.

Etymology: The word derives from the verb pojednać (“to reconcile, to unite”) with the prefix po-, indicating completion or thoroughness.

In the legal realm, pojednanie often refers to an out-of-court settlement reached by the involved parties, sometimes with mediation or facilitation by a judge or public mediator. A written pojednanie may be filed or recognised by a court as the basis for terminating litigation or claims; it commonly includes agreed obligations, such as compensation, return of property, withdrawal of claims, or confidentiality.

In interpersonal and community contexts, pojednanie denotes the act of mending relations after a quarrel, seeking forgiveness, and rebuilding trust. In diplomacy and international relations, the term can describe truces, armistices, or formal settlements intended to normalise relations between disputing actors.

The concept is closely related to, but not identical with, terms such as ugoda (settlement), porozumienie (agreement), or rozejm (truce). It emphasizes the mutually agreed nature of the resolution rather than unilateral action.