retribution

Etymology

Latin, from retribuere (“assign again”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌɹɛtɹɪˈbjuʃən/

Noun

retribution (countable and uncountable, plural retributions)

1. Punishment inflicted in the spirit of moral outrage or personal vengeance.
   • 1983, Richard A. Posner, The economics of justicem p.208:

     Whereas retribution focuses on the offender's wrong, retaliation focuses on the impulse of the victim (or of those who sympathize with him) to strike back at the offender.

   • 1999, Barbara Hanawalt, Medieval crime and social control, p.73:

     1. Revenge is for an injury; retribution is for a wrong.

     2. Retribution sets an internal limit to the amount of the punishment according to the seriousness of the wrong; revenge need not.

     3. Revenge is personal; the agent of retribution need have no special or personal tie to the victim of the wrong for which he exacts retribution.

     4. Revenge involves a particular emotional tone, pleasure in the suffering of another, while retribution need involve no emotional tone.