retributivism

R1E1T1R1I1B3U1T1I1V4I1S1M3

noun

A philosophy of law, stating that criminals should be punished (retribution) for the harm they have caused.

Scrabble 20
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounretributivism (uncountable)
  1. uncountableA philosophy of law, stating that criminals should be punished (retribution) for the harm they have caused.

Origin

From retributive + -ism.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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