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.
But, more often than not, retribution isn’t an option.
From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026
Seven team members initially sought humanitarian assistance in Australia, fearing retribution for not singing the national anthem.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 15, 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
So, for the rest of the weekend and the whole bus ride to school on Monday, I was getting ready for Claire and retribution.
From "Ida B" by Katherine Hannigan
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.
