poetic justice

noun

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

poetic justice

noun

1. fitting retribution; just deserts

Word History and Origins

Origin of poetic justice¹

First recorded in 1720–30

Idioms and Phrases

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]