rebate

verb re·bate \ ˈrē-ˌbāt , ri-ˈbāt \

Updated on: 15 May 2018

Definition of rebate

rebated; rebating

transitive verb

1 : to reduce the force or activity of : diminish

2 : to reduce the sharpness of : blunt

3 a : to make a rebate of

b : to give a rebate to

intransitive verb

: to give rebates

—

rebater

noun

See rebate defined for kids

Recent Examples of rebate from the Web

Another complication is created by Colorado’s infamous TABOR (Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights) constitutional provision, which requires that state revenue surpluses be rebated to taxpayers.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Teacher Protests Spread to Colorado As Arizona Strike Begins," 26 Apr. 2018
Some of the start-ups promise rebates to buyers, however.

— hudson sangree, sacbee, "How much is a real estate agent worth? New firms dangle lower fees in a hot market," 10 Feb. 2018
The city would rebate a portion of the sales taxes up to a specific point.

— steve lord, Aurora Beacon-News, "'Trend setting' Asian shopping center proposed for Aurora would be largest in U.S., officials say," 6 Feb. 2018
Duke’s program would rebate 60 cents a watt for home systems, or $4,800 for a typical 8-kilowatt installation.

— bruce henderson, charlotteobserver, "Here’s how much you can save going solar under new Duke Energy program," 22 Jan. 2018
Economists and politicians disagree about how to spend the cash raised by such a policy: Some want to rebate it directly back to Americans; others say it should be used to help out-of-work coal miners and renewable-energy development.

— robinson meyer, The Atlantic, "Republicans Blow Their Chance to Pass a Carbon Tax," 20 Dec. 2017
Under the plan, St. Charles would rebate part of a seat tax for 10 years to cover those costs, said Onesti, who recently approached city officials and suggested the Arcada would close if a deal could not be reached.

— mike danahey, Elgin Courier-News, "Arcada operator: We're close to a deal to renovate, keep theater open," 9 Dec. 2017
For the homebuyer, the city rebates a portion of the building fee up to $5,000 with a matching contribution up to $5,000 from the builder.

— linda girardi, Aurora Beacon-News, "Yorkville ends incentive program for home building," 27 Oct. 2017
If the federal judges order the case back to District Court, billions of dollars now being charged to Edison and SDG&E ratepayers could be halted or even rebated.

— jeff mcdonald, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Federal appeals court schedules oral arguments in San Onofre lawsuit," 17 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rebate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of rebate

Middle English, from Anglo-French rebatre, rabatre to beat back, deduct, from re- + abatre to strike down, from a- (from Latin ad-) + batre to beat, from Latin battuere

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First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

rebate

noun re·bate \ ˈrē-ˌbāt \

Definition of rebate

: a return of a part of a payment

See rebate defined for English-language learners

Examples of rebate in a Sentence

There is a $50 rebate offered with the printer.

Recent Examples of rebate from the Web

Trump officials have suggested requiring Medicare pharmacy benefit managers to share rebate payments with patients.

— CBS News, "Trump announces plan to lower drug prices: "This is a total rip off, and we are ending it"," 11 May 2018
He is also expected to criticize pharmacy benefit managers, saying they profit from rebates paid by drug companies but do not pass on much of the savings to patients.

— robert pear, New York Times, "Trump to Drop Call for Medicare to Negotiate Lower Drug Prices," 10 May 2018
And in 2017, Colorado's Office of Film awarded the show up to $1 million in rebates on production expenditures made in its state.

— bailey loosemore, The Courier-Journal, "Kentucky is betting millions on a tourism boost from 'Top Chef' effect," 9 May 2018
Vyera, like other pharmaceutical companies, has set up patient assistance programs, coupons, and state rebates to lessen the blow.

— beth mole, Ars Technica, "Drug made famous by Shkreli’s 5,000% price hike is still $750 a pill," 4 May 2018
The system is further convoluted by increasingly common rebates that drug companies pay to PBMs.

— Washington Post, "The Health 202: Here's why it's a nightmare to lower U.S. drug prices," 3 May 2018
In 2009, Barack Obama deliberately made the tax rebate in his stimulus package indiscernible to voters, by modestly reducing workers’ withholding payments instead of mailing out lump-sum checks.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Scott Walker Will Give 671,00 Wisconsin Families an Election-Year Check," 3 May 2018
To learn more Learn about landscape rebates available through the Sustainable Landscapes Incentive Program online at slpincentives.watersmartsd.org.

— chris ross, sandiegouniontribune.com, "‘Fairy garden’ makeover for drought-ravaged yard," 3 May 2018
For the following six months, the rebate drops by half, to $3,750.

— jack stewart, WIRED, "Buying a Tesla? Don't Count on That $7,500 Tax Credit," 2 May 2018

First Known Use of rebate

1656

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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Other Economics Terms

actuary, compound interest, globalization, indemnity, portfolio, rentier, stagflation, usurer

rebate

re·bate \ ˈra-bət , ˈrē-ˌbāt \

Definition of rebate

chiefly British spelling of rabbet

Other Handicraft Terms

biscuit, darn, tambour, wrought

REBATE Defined for English Language Learners

rebate

noun

Definition of rebate for English Language Learners

: an amount of money that is paid back to you because you have paid too much
: an amount of money that a business or company pays back to you because you have bought a particular product or service