rebate

1 of 3

verb

re·​bate ˈrē-ˌbāt 

ri-ˈbāt

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

rebate

2 of 3

noun

re·​bate ˈrē-ˌbāt 

: a return of a part of a payment

rebate

3 of 3

re·​bate ˈra-bət  ˈrē-ˌbāt 

chiefly British spelling of rabbet

Examples of rebate in a Sentence

Noun

There is a $50 rebate offered with the printer.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In October, once the federal tax credits were gone, CHEAPR rebates for fully electric vehicles were increased to $1,000, while the amount available for plug-in hybrids remained at $500. —John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026

Congress included significant pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reforms in the 2026 spending package that strengthened transparency and rebate pass-through requirements—policies that shift financial incentives from industry middleman toward patient care. —Bobby Jindal, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026

Noun

The government approved a range of measures two weeks ago to cut fuel prices, including a temporary reduction in excise taxes on motor fuels, expansion of a rebate for truckers and bus operators that use diesel fuel, and extension of a program that helps low-income people with their heating costs. —Brian Melley, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026

Still, Lamont wants to bend the rules this year and take $500 million from the savings program to finance a $200-per-person, one-time tax rebate in late October, days before voters will decide whether to reelect him to a third term. —Laura Tillman, Hartford Courant, 9 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1656, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rebate

• abate
• airfreight
• await
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate
• borate
• breastplate
• bromate
• casemate

Kids Definition

rebate

1 of 2 verb

re·​bate ˈrē-ˌbāt 

ri-ˈbāt

rebated; rebating

: to make a rebate of : give as a rebate

rebate

2 of 2 noun

re·​bate ˈrē-ˌbāt 

: a return of part of a payment or an amount owed

Legal Definition

rebate

noun

re·​bate ˈrē-ˌbāt 

: a refund or deduction of part of a payment, price, or charge

rebate

ˈrē-ˌbāt, ri-ˈbāt 

verb