rebate

¹ American  

[ree-beyt, ree-beyt, ri-beyt] / ˈri beɪt, ˈri beɪt, rɪˈbeɪt /

noun

1. a return of part of the original payment for some service or merchandise; partial refund.

---

verb (used with object)

rebates, present (3rd person singular) rebated, past participle, past rebating present participle

1. to allow as a discount.

2. to deduct (a certain amount), as from a total.

3. to return (part of an original payment).

   He rebated five dollars to me.

4. to provide a rebate for (merchandise) after purchase.

   The manufacturer is rebating this air conditioner.

5. to blunt (an edged or pointed weapon).

6. to cover the edge or point of (an edged or pointed weapon) in order to make it incapable of cutting or piercing.

verb (used without object)

rebates, present (3rd person singular) rebated, past participle, past rebating present participle

1. to allow rebates, especially as the policy or practice of a company, store, etc.

rebate ² American  

[ree-beyt, rab-it] / ˈri beɪt, ˈræb ɪt /

noun

rebated, rebating

1. rabbet.

---

rebate ¹ British  

/ ˈræbɪt, ˈriːbeɪt /

noun

1. another word for rabbet

---

rebate ² British  

noun

1. a refund of a fraction of the amount payable or paid, as for goods purchased in quantity; discount

---

verb

1. to deduct (a part) of a payment from (the total)

2. archaic to reduce or diminish (something or the effectiveness of something)

rebate Cultural  

1. The return of part of a payment for a good. Unlike a discount, which is deducted from the price before purchase, a rebate is returned after purchase.

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• rebater
  noun
• rebatable
  adjective
• rebateable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• rebating
  present
• rebated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• rebate
  simple
• rebates
  simple
• have rebated
  perfect
• has rebated
  perfect
• am rebating
  progressive
• are rebating
  progressive
• is rebating
  progressive
• have been rebating
  perfect progressive
• has been rebating
  perfect progressive

Past

• rebated
  simple
• had rebated
  perfect
• was rebating
  progressive
• were rebating
  progressive
• had been rebating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will rebate
  simple
• will have rebated
  perfect
• will be rebating
  progressive
• will have been rebating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of rebate

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English rebaten (verb), from Old French rabatre “to beat, put down,” from re- re- + (a)batre “to beat” ( see abate)

Explanation

A rebate is a partial refund of the cost of an item. It acts as an incentive to help sell the product. If your new cell phone came with a rebate, you'll get a check in the mail for a certain amount of the cost. A well-known rebate occurred in 2007 when President George Bush issued tax rebate checks to many people in America, giving back some of what each person paid in taxes. Rebate comes from the Old French word rabattre, meaning "beat down, drive back." Rebate can also be used as a verb that refers to giving a reduction in price during a sale. For example, your internet provider might rebate your bill for three months to keep you as a customer.

Example Sentences

It is now able to bale its own aluminum, cardboard, and other materials used and discarded at the arena from event days and gets a rebate from Waste Management for taking it off their hands.

From Barron's • Jun. 17, 2026

There’s a rebate program available to people who repair their own sidewalks, but it’s capped at an amount that doesn’t always cover the costs.

From Los Angeles Times • May 9, 2026

Kalshi and Polymarket said they rebate some market makers’ fees and sometimes even pay them for providing liquidity.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

Nodding to those concerns, Carney recently announced a temporary tax break on fuel and a one-time grocery rebate that will be delivered to Canadians' bank accounts in June.

From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026

Now, I’ve got the job of straightening this matter out so that both the policies and the company will be unassailable under the rebate law.

From The Best Policy by Flower, Elliott

Related Words

• abatement
• allowance
• bonus
• deduction
• discount
• kickback
• reduction
• reimbursement
• repayment