repercussion
Americannoun
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repercussions
plural
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an effect or result, often indirect or remote, of some event or action.
The repercussions of the quarrel were widespread.
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the state of being driven back by a resisting body.
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a rebounding or recoil of something after impact.
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reverberation; echo.
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Music. (in a fugue) the point after the development of an episode at which the subject and answer appear again.
noun
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(often plural) a result or consequence, esp one that is somewhat removed from the action or event which precipitated it
the repercussions of the war are still keenly felt
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a recoil after impact; a rebound
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a reflection, esp of sound; echo or reverberation
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music the reappearance of a fugal subject and answer after an episode
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of repercussion
1375–1425; late Middle English (< Middle French ) < Latin repercussiōn- (stem of repercussiō ) a rebounding, equivalent to repercuss ( us ) (past participle of repercutere to strike back) + -iōn- -ion. See re-, percussion
Explanation
A repercussion is something that happens because of another action. You could quit paying your rent, but getting evicted from your apartment might be the repercussion. Repercussion may remind you slightly of concussion or percussion — what they all have in common is the idea of something (a head, a drum) getting hit. With repercussion, the hitting is the action, and the result (i.e., the repercussion) is like hearing an echo of that original strike over and over as it reverberates through the air.
Vocabulary lists containing repercussion
"All Summer in a Day" by Ray Bradbury
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This Week in Words: September 22 - 28, 2018
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The Book Thief
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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.
See Examples For:
He added: "I'm not looking for any repercussion from this, I am standing up for myself to a guy who is questioning my reputation and slamming me in the media."
From BBC ● Dec. 5, 2024
In yet another buttress against the scourge of overwork, Australia’s Senate on Thursday passed a bill giving workers the right to ignore calls and messages outside of working hours without fear of repercussion.
From New York Times ● Feb. 8, 2024
Of course, we should do so without feeding into hateful tropes about historically oppressed groups, but we should also recognize when fear of repercussion is being weaponized to silence people.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 30, 2023
The Wolakota herd also ensures a reserve of high-quality meat for the community — without the threat of price-gouging, another pandemic repercussion of the industrial supply chain.
From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2023
Expecting some repercussion, some result from the action.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
"He was a real loner," said a neighbor who spoke to AFP anonymously over fears of repercussions.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
The Yankees once spent whatever it took—-and worried about the repercussions later.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
That might backfire, or it might not, and the repercussions of the former could represent a significant hurdle in their quest for a third consecutive World Series championship.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026
He added that he was "very worried" about the current situation as "I know how badly it escalated and what the repercussions were in many cases".
From BBC ● Sep. 29, 2026
“It’s about how we deal with the repercussions of magic when placed in a public venue, in a world that does not believe in such things. It’s a test of stamina and control, not skill.”
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
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