retribute

R1E1T1R1I1B3U1T1E1
/ˈɹɛtɹɪbjuːt/

verb

To pay back; to give in return, as payment, reward, or punishment; to requite.

“to retribute someone for their kindness”

OriginLatin retributus →
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Meanings

verbretribute (third-person singular simple present retributes, present participle retributing, simple past and past participle retributed)

present singular third person retributes · participle present retributing · participle past retributed · past retributed

  1. To pay back; to give in return, as payment, reward, or punishment; to requite.

    to retribute someone for their kindness

    2 more examples

    to retribute just punishment to a criminal

    retribute to him, so far as calm reason and conscience dictate, what is proportionate to his transgression

    1691, [John Locke], Some Considerations of the Consequences of the Lowering of Interest, and Raising the Value of Money. […], London: […] Awnsham and John Churchill, […], published 1692, →OCLC

Origin

  1. Latinretributus
  2. Englishretribute

Latin retributus, past participle of retribuo (“to retribute”); prefix re- + tribuo (“to bestow, assign, pay”). See tribute.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Portuguese retribuir
  • retribuirto give in return
Spanish retribuir
  • retribuirto give in return
Cite this entry
APA

retribute. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retribute

MLA

“retribute.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retribute. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “retribute,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retribute.

Source: retribute on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.