retribution
reh-trih-BYOO-shun
/ˌrɛtrɪˈbjuːʃən/
Punishment inflicted on someone as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act.
Carries a sense of moral balance—'an eye for an eye.' It is about what the offender 'deserves' rather than reform.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 're-' (back) and 'tribuere' (to assign or pay). It literally means 'paying back' what is owed as a result of one's actions.
Word relationships
- vengeance: Vengeance is more personal and emotional; retribution is more formal and principled.
- forgiveness: The act of pardoning an offender.
Commonly confused with
- restitution: Retribution is about punishment; restitution is about paying back the victim for losses.
Word family
- retributive (adjective): Characterized by or involving retribution.
Collocations
- divine retribution
- seek retribution
- just retribution
Idioms & expressions
- an eye for an eye
Example sentences
- "The victim's family sought retribution for the crime, believing that only the harshest penalty would suffice." Legal philosophy
- "In many ancient myths, the gods demand retribution for acts of hubris." Literature
Memory hook
Retribution = Re-Tribute. You are paying back a 'tribute' of punishment. Re-pay for the crime.
When not to use
Do not use for simple revenge between individuals; it usually implies a structured or divine response.
Fun facts
- The Code of Hammurabi is one of the earliest examples of a legal system based entirely on retribution.
- Retributive justice is often contrasted with restorative justice.
Explore more words
retributive, vindictiveness, vindictive, wrath, expiation, redress
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