reprisal

noun

re·​pri·​sal ri-ˈprī-zəl 

1

: a retaliatory act

2

: the regaining of something (as by recapture)

3

: something (such as a sum of money) given or paid in restitution

—usually used in plural

4

a

: the act or practice in international law of resorting to force short of war in retaliation for damage or loss suffered

b

: an instance of such action

5

obsolete : prize

Synonyms

• reparation
• damages

Examples of reprisal in a Sentence

Enemy officers suffered harsh reprisals.

The allies threatened economic reprisals against the invading country.

The hostages were taken in reprisal for the bombing.

Recent Examples on the Web

The fear of reprisals has firms making strategic decisions to forgo any kind of legal challenge to his methods. —Josh Feldman, NBC news, 14 Aug. 2025

Morale among agency staff is bleak, according to one CDC official who spoke on the condition that they not be named for fear of reprisals. —Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 31 July 2025

Friends in the group — who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals — sent me screenshots of the hundreds of comments after mine. —Amy Klein, Sun Sentinel, 28 July 2025

The killing of two FSB agents in a Ukrainian intelligence operation marks one of the boldest direct actions against Russian operatives inside Ukraine in recent months and raises the stakes in a shadow war defined by high-profile reprisals and covert escalations. Update 7/13/25, 10:43 a.m. —Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English reprisail, from Anglo-French reprisaile, from Medieval Latin represalia, from Old Italian rappresaglia, ultimately from ripreso, past participle of riprendere to take back, from ri- re- (from Latin re-) + prendere to take, from Latin prehendere — more at get

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Rhymes for reprisal

• incisal
• revisal

Kids Definition

reprisal

noun

re·​pri·​sal ri-ˈprī-zəl 

1

: the use of force short of war by one nation against another in return for damage or loss suffered

economic reprisals

2

: an act of getting back at especially in war

Legal Definition

reprisal

noun

re·​pri·​sal ri-ˈprī-zəl 

1

a

: the act or practice in international law of resorting to force short of war in retaliation for damage or loss suffered

b

: an instance of such action

2

: a retaliatory act

may not fire a complaining employee in reprisal

Etymology

Anglo-French reprisaile, reprisaille, from Middle French, from Old Italian ripresaglia, from ripreso, past participle of riprendere to take back, from ri- back + prendere to take, from Latin prehendere