comeuppance
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of comeuppance
An Americanism first recorded in 1855–60; from the phrase come up (as in judgment for a trial) + -ance
Explanation
Comeuppance describes a fate or punishment that's deserved, like when an arrogant trash-talking quarterback fumbles the ball on the last play and loses the game for his team. Comeuppance began as a term that meant "present oneself for judgment by a tribunal." That was in 1859. You can picture an accused person approaching a judge, or "coming up" to the front of a courtroom. Guilt, innocence — comeuppance can be either, and it can apply to things beyond the justice system. Nowadays you'll most likely hear this word describe something bad. If someone gets a deserved punishment, you'd say "He got his comeuppance."
Vocabulary lists containing comeuppance
Long Walk to Freedom
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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
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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.
Within a month of his acquisition, it was the subject of a cover story in Fortune titled, “The Comeuppance of Carl Icahn.”
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 11, 2025
Comeuppance is a complicated subject in this presidency.
From New York Times • Mar. 9, 2018
Comeuppance is a dish best served just before the final credits, after the audience has gotten good and mad at the designated jerks.
From New York Times • Sep. 20, 2012
The King’s Comeuppance How the hottest ad agency of the aughts fell from grace.
From Slate • Jan. 23, 2012
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.
