recoup

verb

re·​coup ri-ˈküp How to pronounce recoup (audio)
recouped; recouping; recoups

transitive verb

1
a
: to get an equivalent for (losses) : make up for
b
: reimburse, compensate
recoup a person for losses
2
: regain
an attempt to recoup his fortune

intransitive verb

: to make good or make up for something lost
also : recuperate
recoupable adjective
recoupment noun

Examples of recoup in a Sentence

It will be hard for us to recoup the loss. Movie studios can turn to video sales to recoup the costs of a movie that does poorly at the box office. She recouped only a portion of her investment.
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.
Bitcoin, which fell from roughly $122,500 to a low of around $104,600 on Friday, has also recouped some of its losses and is now trading around $111,000. Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025 Federal prosecutors say that Tompkins, 67, used his official position to bully executives at a Boston cannabis company to recoup his pre-initial public offering investment of $50,000 when the stocks tanked. Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 12 Oct. 2025 Proceeds from the sale were intended to help contractors recoup some of their losses on the project, as dictated by a judgment resulting from a lawsuit numerous contractors filed in 2022 against Galena. Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 11 Oct. 2025 Spurs don’t owe that money back; ENIC would only be able to recoup it via dividends, which Spurs don’t pay, or via an eventual sale of the club. Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for recoup

Word History

Etymology

French recouper to cut back, from Old French, from re- + couper to cut — more at cope entry 1

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of recoup was in 1628

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Recoup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recoup. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

recoup

verb
re·​coup ri-ˈküp How to pronounce recoup (audio)
1
: to make up for : recover
recoup a loss
2
: reimburse, compensate
recoup a person for losses
recoupment noun

Legal Definition

recoup

transitive verb
re·​coup ri-ˈküp How to pronounce recoup (audio)
: recover sense 1
would recoup the overpayment from current claims paymentsCity of Cordova v. Medicaid Rate Commn., 789 P.2d 346 (1990)

More from Merriam-Webster on recoup

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