- Retribution is defined as something done to get back at someone or the act of punishing someone for their actions.
An example of retribution is when someone gets the death penalty for committing murder.
retribution definition by Webster's New World
noun
punishment for evil done or reward for good done; requital
Origin: Middle English retribucioun ; from Old French retribution ; from Ecclesiastical Late Latin retributio ; from Classical Latin retributus, past participle of retribuere, to repay ; from re-, back plush tribuere, to pay: see tribute
Related Forms:
- retributive adjective or retributory
- retributively adverb
retribution definition by American Heritage Dictionary
noun
- Something justly deserved; recompense.
- Something given or demanded in repayment, especially punishment.
- Theology Punishment or reward distributed in a future life based on performance in this one.
Origin: Middle English retribucion, from Old French retribution, from Latin retribūtiō, retribūtiōn-, from retribūtus, past participle of retribuere, to pay back : re-, re- + tribuere, to grant; see tribe.
