clawback
1 of 2noun
claw·back ˈklȯ-ˌbak 
plural clawbacks
: the act or an instance of getting back money or benefits previously given out: such as
a
: the recovery of tax allowances by additional taxation
Next year sees the resumption of a 3% clawback that penalizes most upper-bracket taxpayers.
William Baldwin
William Baldwin b
: the reclaiming of money or benefits under special circumstances stipulated in a contract —usually used before another noun
He suggested a clawback provision that would allow companies to demand the return of compensation tied to performance if it turned out that a company's stock performance was inflated by bad business practices or malfeasance. Loren SteffyCriticism of the large bonuses awarded during federally funded bailouts spurred many banks to adopt clawback measures. Joann S. Lublin et al.
Loren SteffyCriticism of the large bonuses awarded during federally funded bailouts spurred many banks to adopt clawback measures. Joann S. Lublin et al.claw back
2 of 2verb
clawed back; clawing back; claws back
transitive verb
1
: to get back (something) usually by strenuous effort or forceful means : regain
… the street is becoming a high-profile example of how Iraqi National Guard troops … can claw back territory from insurgents. Scott Peterson
Scott PetersonUnion activists have been knocking on members' doors, standing at the gates of steel mills and generally trying to claw back votes from 2016 … Trip Gabriel
Trip Gabriel2
: to recover (money or benefits) especially by putting into effect additional taxation or clawback provisions
If finance ministers do approve exceptional increases for farm spending, the extra will have to be clawed back in the next two years. The Economist
The EconomistBut unbeknownst to you, the drug actually cost only $7, and the pharmacy benefits manager claws back the extra $3. Sydney Lupkin
Sydney Lupkin
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Rachel Donadio, Vogue, 26 July 2022 Their former insurer, Cigna, accidentally double-paid for the care, then tried to claw back the overpayment from the couple themselves — all $257,000 of it — instead of the hospital. Ryan Cooper, The Week, 23 Sep. 2021 Depending on how that provision is written, such a tax could effectively claw back other tax breaks. Richard Rubin, WSJ, 31 Mar. 2021 The Justice Department, in some instances, is trying to claw back money that rioters have made off the insurrection. Michael Kunzelman, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2022 The Department of Commerce would claw back the funds provided by the bill if companies do not abide by those restrictions, senators said. New York Times, 27 July 2022 After California officials were forced to claw back the state’s $457-million cash advance to Blue Flame amid fraud concerns, lawmakers demanded transparency and accountability during a hearing in May 2020. Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2022 But the state is required by the federal government to claw back money from people who didn’t follow the grant requirements. ProPublica, 12 May 2010 Which is why the effort to claw back the postal vehicle contract is so important. Jacob Resneck, Journal Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2022 See More
Verb
Zelenskyy wants more military support for defense and to claw back territory Russia has seized since February, if not since 2014, when Russia first invaded Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine. Rachel Donadio, Vogue, 26 July 2022 Their former insurer, Cigna, accidentally double-paid for the care, then tried to claw back the overpayment from the couple themselves — all $257,000 of it — instead of the hospital. Ryan Cooper, The Week, 23 Sep. 2021 Depending on how that provision is written, such a tax could effectively claw back other tax breaks. Richard Rubin, WSJ, 31 Mar. 2021 The Justice Department, in some instances, is trying to claw back money that rioters have made off the insurrection. Michael Kunzelman, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Aug. 2022 The Department of Commerce would claw back the funds provided by the bill if companies do not abide by those restrictions, senators said. New York Times, 27 July 2022 After California officials were forced to claw back the state’s $457-million cash advance to Blue Flame amid fraud concerns, lawmakers demanded transparency and accountability during a hearing in May 2020. Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2022 But the state is required by the federal government to claw back money from people who didn’t follow the grant requirements. ProPublica, 12 May 2010 Which is why the effort to claw back the postal vehicle contract is so important. Jacob Resneck, Journal Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
Noun
1962, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1852, in the meaning defined at sense 1