retribution

noun

ret·​ri·​bu·​tion ˌre-trə-ˈbyü-shən 

1

: recompense, reward

2

: the dispensing or receiving of reward or punishment especially in the hereafter

3

: something given or exacted in recompense

especially : punishment

Did you know?

With its prefix re-, meaning "back", retribution means literally "payback". And indeed we usually use it when talking about personal revenge, whether it's retribution for an insult in a high-school corridor or retribution for a guerrilla attack on a government building. But retribution isn't always so personal: God takes "divine retribution" on humans several times in the Old Testament, especially in the great Flood that wipes out almost the entire human race. And retribution for criminal acts, usually in the form of a prison sentence, is taken by the state, not the victims.

Synonyms

• payback
• reprisal
• requital
• retaliation
• revenge
• vengeance

Examples of retribution in a Sentence

The elastic-faced Ruck is a real find: his Cameron is a guilt-ridden, father-dominated nerd almost paralyzed with fear of parental retribution. —David Ansen, Newsweek, 16 June 1986

The two purposes that sustain the death penalty … in the Court's view are general deterrence and retribution. —Thurgood Marshall, Gregg v. Georgia, 1976

" … As for Cordelia, she went insane with remorse and was shut up in a lunatic asylum. I thought that was a poetical retribution for her crime." —Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables, 1908

The killer acted without fear of retribution.

the neighborhood is being torn apart by an endless cycle of gang violence and retribution

Recent Examples on the Web

Those staff members have been furloughed until later in the year, the state of their future contracts unclear, according to a NOAA staffer speaking on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution. —Alejandra Borunda, NPR, 9 Apr. 2025

The employees asked not to be named for fear of retribution. —Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 7 Apr. 2025

Both spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution. —Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025

China has responded with a 34% tariff of its own on U.S. goods, and the European Union vows retribution as well. —Susan Page, USA Today, 6 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English retribucioun, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin retribution-, retributio, from Latin retribuere to pay back, from re- + tribuere to pay — more at tribute

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing retribution

• divine retribution

Rhymes for retribution

• absolution
• allocution
• attribution
• comminution
• constitution
• contribution
• convolution
• destitution
• devolution
• diminution
• dissolution
• distribution

Kids Definition

retribution

noun

ret·​ri·​bu·​tion ˌre-trə-ˈbyü-shən 

: something given in payment for a wrong : punishment

Legal Definition

retribution

noun

ret·​ri·​bu·​tion ˌre-trə-ˈbyü-shən 

: punishment imposed (as on a convicted criminal) for purposes of repayment or revenge for the wrong committed