recoup

verb

re·​coup ri-ˈküp 

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

ri-ˈkü-pə-bəl 

adjective

recoupment

ri-ˈküp-mənt 

noun

Synonyms of recoup

• recapture
• regain
• retrieve
• recover
• reclaim

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

Banks may recoup some of the cost by charging merchants their own digital-euro transaction fee, although critics argue this is effectively re-creating the interchange model the digital euro was meant to disrupt. — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

Mayors since have worked, and largely failed, to find a way for the city to recoup any of the revenue coming from parking fees since. — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026

But history shows that the public almost never recoups the initial subsidy. — Abigail Hall, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2026

The settlements allowing federal authorities to recoup the funds helped resolve allegations that several companies made false certifications on their PPP loan and forgiveness applications. — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026

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

Rhymes for recoup

• newsgroup
• regroup
• subgroup
• workgroup
• coop
• coupe
• croup
• droop
• drupe
• dupe
• group
• hoop

Kids Definition

recoup

verb

re·​coup ri-ˈküp 

1

: to make up for : recover

recoup a loss

2

: reimburse, compensate

recoup a person for losses

recoupment

-ˈküp-mənt 

noun

Legal Definition

recoup

transitive verb

re·​coup ri-ˈküp 

: recover sense 1

would recoup the overpayment from current claims payments

—City of Cordova v. Medicaid Rate Commn., 789 P.2d 346 (1990)