noun
reprisal
rih-PREYE-zuhl
Reprisal (noun) means an act of retaliation, especially in response to an attack or injury. Example: “The village feared reprisals after reporting the soldiers' crimes.”
noun
1
An act of retaliation, especially in response to an attack or injury.
"The village feared reprisals after reporting the soldiers' crimes."
How to use reprisal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGetting back at someone, usually through force, for something they did.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
fear of reprisal
in reprisal for
reprisal attacks
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Word forms
- Plural
- reprisals
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The village feared _____ after reporting the soldiers' crimes.
Etymology
From Old Italian ripresaglia via Anglo-Norman reprisaille, ultimately from Latin reprehendere ("to seize back").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for reprisal
See all rhymes for reprisal →Frequently asked questions
What does “reprisal” mean?
The word “reprisal” means an act of retaliation, especially in response to an attack or injury. In plain terms, getting back at someone, usually through force, for something they did.
How do you pronounce “reprisal”?
“Reprisal” is pronounced rih-PREYE-zuhl (/ɹɪˈpɹaɪzəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “reprisal” in a sentence?
Here is “reprisal” used in a sentence: “The village feared reprisals after reporting the soldiers' crimes.”
What part of speech is “reprisal”?
“Reprisal” is a noun.
Where does the word “reprisal” come from?
The word “reprisal” comes from Latin. From Old Italian ripresaglia via Anglo-Norman reprisaille, ultimately from Latin reprehendere ("to seize back").
