Retribution is defined as something done to get back at someone or the act of punishing someone for their actions.noun
An example of retribution is when someone gets the death penalty for committing murder.
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noun
punishment for evil done or reward for good done; requital
Origin: ME retribucioun < OFr retribution < LL(Ec) retributio < L retributus, pp. of retribuere, to repay < re-, back + tribuere, to pay: see tribute
Related Forms:
- retributive adjective or retributory
- retributively adverb
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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.