recoup

verb

re·​coup ri-ˈküp 

recouped; recouping; recoups

transitive verb

1

a

: to get an equivalent for (losses) : make up for

b

: reimburse, compensate

recoup a person for losses

2

: regain

an attempt to recoup his fortune

intransitive verb

: to make good or make up for something lost

also : recuperate

recoupable

ri-ˈkü-pə-bəl 

adjective

recoupment

ri-ˈküp-mənt 

noun

Synonyms of recoup

• recapture
• regain
• retrieve
• recover
• reclaim

Examples of recoup in a Sentence

It will be hard for us to recoup the loss.

Movie studios can turn to video sales to recoup the costs of a movie that does poorly at the box office.

She recouped only a portion of her investment.

Recent Examples on the Web

They are now left scrambling to recoup their savings, government pensions and, for 7,000 employees affected by the bank’s closure, unpaid wages. — Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026

That helps the studio recoup losses for underperforming movies. — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 4 Nov. 2026

That could continue to go up year by year as local governments seek to recoup their funding, Walczak said in his study. — Romy Ellenbogen, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026

In 2025, the state boosted the amount of income a worker can recoup while on family leave. — Elly Yu, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French recouper to cut back, from Old French, from re- + couper to cut — more at cope entry 1

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for recoup

• newsgroup
• regroup
• subgroup
• workgroup
• coop
• coupe
• croup
• droop
• drupe
• dupe
• group
• hoop

Kids Definition

recoup

verb

re·​coup ri-ˈküp 

1

: to make up for : recover

recoup a loss

2

: reimburse, compensate

recoup a person for losses

recoupment

-ˈküp-mənt 

noun

Legal Definition

recoup

transitive verb

re·​coup ri-ˈküp 

: recover sense 1

would recoup the overpayment from current claims payments

—City of Cordova v. Medicaid Rate Commn., 789 P.2d 346 (1990)