retribution
Americannoun
-
requital according to merits or deserts, especially for evil.
- Synonyms:
- recompense, repayment, retaliation
- Antonyms:
- pardon
-
something given or inflicted in such requital.
- Synonyms:
- recompense, repayment, retaliation
- Antonyms:
- pardon
-
Theology. the distribution of rewards and punishments in a future life.
noun
-
the act of punishing or taking vengeance for wrongdoing, sin, or injury
-
punishment or vengeance
Related Words
See revenge.
Other Word Forms
- retributive adjective
- retributively adverb
Etymology
Origin of retribution
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English retribucioun, from Middle French, from Late Latin retribūtiōn- (stem of retribūtiō ) “punishment, reward as result of judgment,” equivalent to Latin retribūt(us) (past participle of retribuere “to restore, give back”; re-, tribute ) + -iōn- -ion
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
SAN FRANCISCO—A federal judge on Tuesday said the U.S. government appeared to be punishing Anthropic by banning the artificial-intelligence company—in retribution for bringing into the public view its contracting dispute with the Pentagon.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026
He stressed that the system must provide a sense of justice and retribution to crime victims, although he said that does not necessarily hinge on lengthy prison sentences.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 8, 2026
Officials from the WFP, Save the Children, and other NGOs we contacted refused to go on the record, fearing Houthi retribution.
From BBC • Feb. 27, 2026
Although part of Kosovo's judicial system, it is physically located in The Hague and staffed solely by international judges in a bid to protect witnesses from possible retribution at home.
From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026
A father does not fear retribution from his son, but I was not his son.
From "Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood" by Trevor Noah
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
