retribution

ˌrɛtrəˈbjuːʃən

Definition

Definition of retribution - Reverso English Dictionary

Noun

justicepunishment for wrongdoing or crime

He faced retribution for his crimes.

penalty

punishment

vengeance

paybackvengeance for a personal injury or offense

She sought retribution for the betrayal.

payback

revenge

vengeance

penalty

Rare

deserved penalty for an action

Rare

Retribution was swift for the cheating athlete.

penalty

punishment

Add a suggestion |

Feedback:

Expressions with retribution

💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.

in retribution

adv.

as payback or punishment for something done

He acted in retribution for the insult.

Origin of retribution

Latin, re- (again) + tribuere (to assign)

Terms with retribution included in their meaning

💡 A powerful way to uncover related words, idioms, and expressions linked by the same idea — and explore meaning beyond exact word matches.

vengeance

retribution

the act of taking revenge for harm done

street justice

retribution

informal retribution for perceived wrongs

exact revenge

justice

to seek retribution for a perceived injustice

payback time

retribution

time when someone is repaid for their actions

score to settle

grievance

unresolved issue needing resolution or retribution

wrath

religion

divine punishment or retribution

avenging

adj.

revengeful

seeking revenge or retribution against wrongdoers

comeuppance

just desserts

deserved punishment or retribution

Examples of retribution in a sentence

The villagers sought retribution for the stolen cattle.
The novel explores themes of retribution and justice.
He feared retribution from his former allies.
The villain faced retribution for his crimes.
Retribution followed the betrayal swiftly.

View all translations of retribution

✨Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.

French:châtiment, rétribution, ...
German:Vergeltung, Rache, ...
Italian:punizione, vendetta, ...
Spanish:retribución, desquite, ...
Portuguese:retribuição, castigo, ...
Chinese:惩罚, 复仇, ...
Japanese:報復, 仕返し, ...
Arabic:عِقَاب, انتقام, ...
Hebrew:גְּמוּל, תַּגְמוּל, ...
Russian:возмездие, расплата, ...
Ukrainian:відплата, помста, ...
Hindi:दंड, प्रतिशोध, ...
Bengali:শাস্তি, প্রতিশোধ, ...
Catalan:càstig, venjança, ...
Czech:odplata, pomsta, ...
Danish:straf, repressalier, ...
Dutch:vergelding, wraak, ...
Greek:τιμωρία, εκδίκηση, ...
Hungarian:megtorlás, bosszú, ...
Khmer:ការផ្តន្ទាទោស, ការសងគំនុំ, ...
Korean:응징, 복수, ...
Persian:کیفر, انتقام, ...
Polish:kara, zemsta, ...
Portuguese (BR):retribuição, vingança, ...
Romanian:pedeapsă, răzbunare, ...
Swedish:vedergällning, ...
Thai:การลงโทษ, การแก้แค้น, ...
Turkish:ceza, öç, ...
Vietnamese:sự trừng phạt, sự trả thù, ...

Browse the dictionary entries starting with “r”:

Discover how Reverso redefines the dictionary

Go beyond “simple words”

100,000 expressions & idioms Understand any expression you come across: from corporate jargon like 💬 touch base or ↩️ circle back to everyday expressions such as 🌊 out of the blue or 🦆 lame duck, as well as idioms like 🍲 spill the beans and 🐎 hold your horses.

40,000 images When you search for a concrete noun or object, images help you grasp the meaning at a glance. Try searching for 🧵 puppytooth, 🎠 merry-go-round, ⚜️ fleur-de-lys, or 💤 bunk bed.

Informal language & slang Everyday conversations are packed with informal expressions and slang. Meanings are clearly tagged, so you'll always know when a word is casual. Look up hangry (😋 hungry + 😡 angry), 😎 rizz, 🕹️ noob, or 🔑 low-key.

Abbreviations & acronyms Quickly decode modern abbreviations and acronyms. Go from IDK to OMG in seconds and stay up to date with popular abbreviations such as 🐐 GOAT, 📜 tl;dr, 👀 POV, or 🖥️ AFK.

Regional usage (US / UK) Reverso highlights regional differences between American and British English. You’ll never have to wonder where a word is commonly used: try lift vs. elevator, courgette vs. zucchini, or popular British slang like dodgy or banter. What’s more, when you search for 'color', you’ll immediately see its British counterpart, 'colour'.

Get more than a simple definition

Translations for each meaning View translations alongside each meaning to see how a word is translated in each context. Simply toggle translations ON and choose among 25+ languages. You can also display the translation of definitions or examples into your native language to deepen your understanding.

Synonyms & related words by meaning View synonyms and related words for each meaning, not just for the word as a whole. This helps you choose the most accurate word for your context. Click the

icon to discover related terms: analogies, antonyms, common collocates, words with same roots, umbrella terms… Try with happening or hunch.

Multiple examples for every meaning Each meaning comes with three real-life examples to show you how the word is used in different contexts. Click the

icon next to the first example to see two additional options and learn to use new vocabulary naturally.

Go from understanding to mastery

Save words for later review Click the

icon to save words you want to revisit. You can also save a specific meaning by clicking on the

icon next to it. For example, you might want to save the word “table” as a verb, which means “to postpone”.

Practice with personalized flashcards Reverso automatically transforms your searches and saved words into personalized flashcards and quizzes, featuring high-quality audio and usage examples. This helps you transform terms you only recognize into words you actually use confidently.

Learn with Netflix, YouTube, and your favorite texts With Reverso Chrome extension, transform movies, TV shows, articles, or song lyrics into an interactive lesson. Look up words and expressions in one click on any website and learn with your favorite content.

Definition of retribution - Reverso English Dictionary

Noun

Expressions with retribution

Origin of retribution

Terms related to retribution

Terms with retribution included in their meaning

Examples of retribution in a sentence

View all translations of retribution

Discover how Reverso redefines the dictionary

Go beyond “simple words”

Get more than a simple definition

Go from understanding to mastery