Synonyms

poetic justice

American

noun

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

poetic justice British

noun

fitting retribution; just deserts

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

poetic justice Idioms

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]

Etymology

Origin of poetic justice

First recorded in 1720–30

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.

If Mazda’s customers rebel, it will amount to poetic justice.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

If the railroad ultimately allows the city to build a trail — and that trail indeed brings in more tourist dollars — many locals says it would be poetic justice.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2025

It would have been poetic justice if he had won on Sunday, not just playing in a home World Cup but also leading his side - that wasn't meant to be.

From BBC • Nov. 21, 2023

It's poetic justice that they get to be first in line to start holding him accountable.

From Salon • Apr. 4, 2023

It was poetic justice that his gift should be the thing smashed!

From Vision House by Williamson, A. M. (Alice Muriel)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023