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

By proposing to rebate sales taxes, instead of income taxes, Lamont would spare nearly all recipients from having to share about 22%-to-32% of their bonus with the federal government. —John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 3 Feb. 2026

Many drugmakers also offer patient assistance programs, coupons, and rebates on some medications. —Renuka Rayasam, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026

Noun

In recent years, the Chicago Auto Show has been steering toward electric vehicles, following the ambitious state and national agenda to convert the industry from combustion engines to cleaner technology, incentivized by governmental tax credits and rebates. —Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026

The list prices for brand-name drugs — which are like the sticker prices set by drugmakers before rebates or other discounts are negotiated — increased by a median of 4% so far in 2026, on par with last year's increase. —Joe Walsh, CBS News, 6 Feb. 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