Retribution definition Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/rɪˈtrɪbjuːʃən/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

Retrribution definition is the act or process of giving or receiving fair compensation or punishment for harm, wrong, or injury done to oneself or others.

Examples

1. “She sought retribution for the harm caused to her family during the war.”

2. “The company faced retribution for its environmental violations, paying a substantial fine and implementing new sustainability measures.”

Synonyms

1. Revenge

2. Recompense

3. Retaliation

Antonyms

1. Forgiveness

2. Mercy

3. Indemnity

Etymology

The word retribution comes from the Latin “retributio,” which is derived from “re-” (back) and “tributio” (payment or compensation). The term has been used in English since the 14th century to describe the concept of giving or receiving fair compensation for harm or injury.

Usage Notes

The term retribution can be used in various contexts, including personal, social, or political spheres. In a personal context, it refers to an individual’s desire for justice or revenge for harm or wrong done to them. In a social context, retribution can involve community punishment or restorative justice initiatives. Politically, retribution often relates to policies or actions taken by governments or organizations to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.

Cultural References

The concept of retribution is deeply rooted in many cultures and historical contexts. For example, the biblical concept of an “eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” is often seen as a form of retribution. In some indigenous cultures, retribution is linked to ancestral practices of balance and restoration.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

Some idiomatic expressions or phrases related to retribution include “blood on their hands,” “feeling entitled to justice,” “vengeance is sweet,” or “righting past wrongs.”

Related Words or Phrases

Some words or phrases closely related to retribution include justice, vengeance, recompense, and compensation. Additionally, words like apology, pardon, and indemnity convey concepts opposite to retribution.

Collocations

Retrribution is often used in combination with other words or phrases such as: seeking justice, revenge for wrongdoing, payback for injuries, exacting compensation, paying for wrongdoing, bringing the perpetrators to account.

Frequency of Use

Retrribution is used fairly commonly in both written and spoken English, often in the context of politics, crime, and social issues.

Common Misspellings

The word retribution can sometimes be misspelled as retribuation or returition, reflecting possible etymological and semantic links with retribution but actually a form of alteration by another pattern from root verb transpiration ‘I exhale an inner portion’. Incorrect representation