poetic justice

American  

noun

1. an ideal distribution of rewards and punishments such as is common in some poetry and fiction.

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poetic justice British  

noun

1. fitting retribution; just deserts

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poetic justice Idioms  

1. An outcome in which virtue is rewarded and evil punished, often in an especially appropriate or ironic manner. For example, It was poetic justice for the known thief to go to jail for the one crime he didn't commit. [Early 1700s]

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Etymology

Origin of poetic justice

First recorded in 1720–30

Example Sentences

The hum for readers of this well-crafted book comes from seeing its determined protagonist try to foil that scheme while ensuring poetic justice.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026

That it’s a woman who ultimately neutralizes Homelander shielding is a kind of poetic justice.

From Salon • May 24, 2026

It would have been poetic justice if he had won on Sunday, not just playing in a home World Cup but also leading his side - that wasn't meant to be.

From BBC • Nov. 21, 2023

It was poetic justice after what happened with the Dodgers two seasons ago.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 19, 2023

By a kind of poetic justice the utter failure of art to satisfy the demand for reform, for purity, for religion, was proved during the pontificates of the two Medici, Leo X and Clement VII.

From A Short History of Italy (476-1900) by Sedgwick, Henry Dwight