rebate

1 of 3

verb

re·​bate ˈrē-ˌbāt How to pronounce rebate (audio)
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
rebater noun

rebate

2 of 3

noun

re·​bate ˈrē-ˌbāt How to pronounce rebate (audio)
: a return of a part of a payment

rebate

3 of 3
re·​bate ˈra-bət How to pronounce rebate (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Another way is to entice businesses that sell taxable goods and services by rebating a share of sales taxes back to sellers. Dan Walters, Mercury News, 21 Sep. 2025 Another way is to entice businesses that sell taxable goods and services by rebating a share of sales taxes back to sellers. Dan Walters, Oc Register, 20 Sep. 2025
Noun
The special rebate initially announced in April had been set to be lowered and then expire in 2027. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025 The special rebate initially announced in April had been set to be lowered and then expire in 2027. Josh Boak, Twin Cities, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rebate

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of rebate was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rebate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rebate. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

rebate

1 of 2 verb
re·​bate ˈrē-ˌbāt How to pronounce rebate (audio)
ri-ˈbāt
rebated; rebating
: to make a rebate of : give as a rebate

rebate

2 of 2 noun
re·​bate ˈrē-ˌbāt How to pronounce rebate (audio)
: a return of part of a payment or an amount owed

Legal Definition

rebate

noun
re·​bate ˈrē-ˌbāt How to pronounce rebate (audio)
: a refund or deduction of part of a payment, price, or charge

More from Merriam-Webster on rebate

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