'Propitiation' definitions:

Definition of 'propitiation'

noun

The act of placating and overcoming distrust and animosity [syn: placation, conciliation, propitiation]

noun

The act of atoning for sin or wrongdoing (especially appeasing a deity) [syn: expiation, atonement, propitiation]

From: GCIDE

Propitiation \Pro*pi`ti*a"tion\, n. [L. propitiatio: cf. F. propitiation.] [1913 Webster]
1. The act of appeasing the wrath and conciliating the favor of an offended person; the act of making propitious. [1913 Webster]
2. (Theol.) That which propitiates; atonement or atoning sacrifice; specifically, the influence or effects of the death of Christ in appeasing the divine justice, and conciliating the divine favor. [1913 Webster]
He [Jesus Christ] is the propitiation for our sins. --1 John ii. 2. [1913 Webster]

Propitiation that by which God is rendered propitious, i.e., by which it becomes consistent with his character and government to pardon and bless the sinner. The propitiation does not procure his love or make him loving; it only renders it consistent for him to execise his love towards sinners.
In Rom. 3:25 and Heb. 9:5 (A.V., "mercy-seat") the Greek word _hilasterion_ is used. It is the word employed by the LXX. translators in Ex. 25:17 and elsewhere as the equivalent for the Hebrew _kapporeth_, which means "covering," and is used of the lid of the ark of the covenant (Ex. 25:21; 30:6). This Greek word (hilasterion) came to denote not only the mercy-seat or lid of the ark, but also propitation or reconciliation by blood. On the great day of atonement the high priest carried the blood of the sacrifice he offered for all the people within the veil and sprinkled with it the "mercy-seat," and so made propitiation.
In 1 John 2:2; 4:10, Christ is called the "propitiation for our sins." Here a different Greek word is used (hilasmos). Christ is "the propitiation," because by his becoming our substitute and assuming our obligations he expiated our guilt, covered it, by the vicarious punishment which he endured. (Comp. Heb. 2:17, where the expression "make reconciliation" of the A.V. is more correctly in the R.V. "make propitiation.")