Fairchild's bequest for the sermon was an expiation of his sense of guilt.

ECONOMIST: Of a practical nature

Generally, he seems to deploy the concept as expiation for past ideological lapses.

ECONOMIST: Republicans are for states�� rights��when it suits them

Yet, if expiation is impossible, penance is not: they can talk.

NEWYORKER: The Ground Truth

It is difficult to separate out fact from fiction, sin from expiation, punishment from reward when we are so muddled about the facts and so ready to believe almost anything.

FORBES: Armstrong and Te'O--True Sparrows Or Fake Eagles