buyback

noun

buy·​back ˈbī-ˌbak 

: the act or an instance of buying something back

In Boston and other cities, gun buyback programs dramatically call attention to the profusion of firearms among the young …

—Diane Weathers

Talks of a potential buyback come as Volkswagen and federal regulators discuss ways to bring the more than half-million affected Volkswagen cars in the US up to current emissions standards.

—Bryan Logan

especially : the repurchase by a corporation of shares of its own common stock usually on the open market

Most corporate buybacks involve a repurchase by a company of part of its outstanding common stock at a fixed price, which is normally sufficiently higher than the market price to attract the desired number of shares.

—Leonard Sloane

This stock buyback boom, while obscure to much of the public, has become one of the most pervasive and divisive practices in corporate America.

—Michael Kranish

Examples of buyback in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For investors planning to eventually sell their gold, the buyback spread represents another cost worth considering. —Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 14 Jan. 2026

The nonprofit supports organ donation, gun buyback programs and fights youth homelessness and human trafficking. —Susan Young, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026

Last week, Healey instructed Attorney General Andrea Campbell to file suit to claw back Cook’s buyback bonus. —Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald, 13 Jan. 2026

Companies have long argued that stock buybacks are a practice that can boost earnings per share, stock prices, and provide additional cash to shareholders. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 13 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1954, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for buyback

• aback
• anzac
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack
• bareback
• blackjack
• brownback
• callback
• cognac
• comeback
• cutback

Legal Definition

buyback

noun

buy·​back ˈbī-ˌbak 

: an act or instance of buying something back

especially : the repurchase by a corporation of shares of its own common stock on the open market