retribution
noun /ˌretrɪˈbjuːʃn/
/ˌretrɪˈbjuːʃn/
[uncountable] (formal)- retribution (for something) severe punishment for something seriously wrong that somebody has done
- People are seeking retribution for the latest terrorist outrages.
- fear of divine retribution (= punishment from God)
Extra ExamplesTopics Crime and punishmentc2- His armies invaded their lands in retribution.
- Members of Parliament clearly feared retribution from their constituents.
- Political retribution will fall swiftly on any president who fails in that task.
- Retribution will be swift if you cross me.
- She saw the sentence as just retribution on the man who had assaulted her.
- The celebrity couple clearly feared retribution from their fans.
- The victim did not report the incident for fear of retribution.
- Violent retribution soon followed.
- retribution against wrongdoers
- The public demanded swift justice and retribution.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- just
- terrible
- violent
- …
- demand
- seek
- exact
- …
- come
- follow
- in retribution
- retribution against
- retribution for
- …
- an act of retribution
- fear of retribution
Word Originlate Middle English (also in the sense ‘recompense for merit or a service’): from late Latin retributio(n-), from retribut- ‘assigned again’, from the verb retribuere, from re- ‘back’ + tribuere ‘assign’.