poetic justice

American  

noun

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

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poetic justice British  

noun

1. fitting retribution; just deserts

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poetic justice Idioms  

1. 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]

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Etymology

Origin of poetic justice

First recorded in 1720–30

Example Sentences

That it’s a woman who ultimately neutralizes Homelander shielding is a kind of poetic justice.

From Salon • May 24, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

What poetic justice it would be if the Knicks had to end up rehiring Tom Thibodeau and have to give him more money and more authority?

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 14, 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

Such a conception of tragedy involves a recognition of the blindness of chance that cannot be squared with any theory of poetic justice or theological view of the rewards due to virtue.

From Tragedy by Thorndike, Ashley H.