reprisal

American  

[ri-prahy-zuhl] / rɪˈpraɪ zəl /

noun

• reprisals
  plural

1. (in warfare) retaliation against an enemy, for injuries received, by the infliction of equal or greater injuries.

   Synonyms:

   redress

2. an act or instance of retaliation.

3. the action or practice of using force, short of war, against another nation, to secure redress of a grievance.

4. the forcible seizure of property or subjects in retaliation.

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reprisal British  

/ rɪˈpraɪzəl /

noun

1. (often plural) retaliatory action against an enemy in wartime, such as the execution of prisoners of war, destruction of property, etc

2. the act or an instance of retaliation in any form

3. (formerly) the forcible seizure of the property or subjects of one nation by another

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reprisal Cultural  

1. An act by which a nation seeks, short of war, to redress a wrong committed against it by another nation. Boycotts and blockades are common forms of reprisal.

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Synonym Usage

See revenge.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonreprisal
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• reprisals
  plural

Etymology

Origin of reprisal

1400–50; late Middle English reprisail < Old French reprisaille. See reprise, -al ²

Explanation

A reprisal is an act of retaliation, especially one committed by one country against another. If you attack your enemy's village and cause lots of damage, expect a reprisal. Reprisal comes from the French for taking back, and used to mean the seizure of property as a compensation for some earlier loss. Now we use it more in the sense of a retaliatory attack. When Germany bombed London during World War II, the British reprisals included the bombing of Berlin. Reprisal doesn't always have to be about war; you can use it for any act of retaliation.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

reprisal reprisals

Many Sikh community members “choose to remain silent because of a fear of reprisal to them, their body, their business, and to their loved ones in the United States or India,” said Naindeep Singh.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 18, 2026

After having lived through decades of war in their own country, and having escaped the possibility of reprisal and persecution there, the Afghan evacuees are now caught in another nightmare.

From BBC ● Mar. 18, 2026

His pending asylum hearing had been delayed, but according to this immigrant, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal, the agents arrested him anyway for being “late” to court.

From Salon ● Mar. 4, 2026

La Fortaleza's residents refused to discuss the conflict out of fear of reprisal.

From Barron's ● Jan. 20, 2026

Only a sense of the solidarity and fighting ability of Mack and the boys saved them from some kind of reprisal.

From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck

Yunes said the siblings, who both have a genetic eye condition and asked not to use their family name for fear of reprisals, spent 18 months in Egypt before travelling to Europe.

From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026

“But the combination of predictable U.S. reprisals and conditioning economic incentives on compliance could persuade Tehran not to overplay its hand.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

Police in Nigeria have warned against reprisals targeting South African nationals or businesses following a wave of anti-migrant protests in South Africa.

From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026

During the McCarthy era, overreaching laws, surveillance, and public and private sector reprisals ostensibly targeted alleged communists.

From Salon ● May 28, 2026

Although many more residents wanted to support Thorpe, they feared reprisals by the vindictive Oldham.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Related Words

• retaliation
• retribution
• vengeance