restitution

noun

res·​ti·​tu·​tion ˌre-stə-ˈtü-shən 

-ˈtyü-

1

: an act of restoring or a condition of being restored: such as

a

: a restoration of something to its rightful owner

b

: a making good of or giving an equivalent for some injury

2

: a legal action serving to cause restoration of a previous state

Synonyms

• compensation
• damages
• indemnification
• indemnity
• quittance
• recompense
• recoupment
• redress
• remuneration
• reparation
• reprisal(s)
• requital
• satisfaction

Examples of restitution in a Sentence

the restitution of her stolen property

He was ordered to make restitution to the victim.

Recent Examples on the Web

He also was ordered to pay $500 restitution for damage to the Capitol, which prosecutors say totaled more than $2.9 million. —Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2024

In addition to the nine-year prison sentence, Brannon was also ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution. —USA TODAY, 16 Apr. 2024

Brannon, of San Juan Capistrano, was also told to pay $1,000 in restitution. —Patrick Smith, NBC News, 16 Apr. 2024

She was also ordered to pay over $8.6 million in restitution. —Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 10 Apr. 2024

Frankel, a financial planner, is demanding a jury trial and seeks restitution for medical expenses, lost earnings, legal expenses and physical and emotional pain. —Cameron MacDonald, The Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2024

Nexus Services must pay roughly $231 million in restitution as well as penalties of $13.8 million to New York, $7.1 million to Virginia and $3.4 million to Massachusetts, according to a judgement filed in federal court for the Western District of Virginia in Harrisonburg. —Philip Marcelo, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2024

Auditor Tim O’Brien’s Annual Wage Theft Report, issued late last week, says his Denver Labor staff collected $2.04 million in restitution on behalf of workers — an 85% increase over the prior reporting year’s total. —Joe Rubino, The Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2024

Paxton is a conservative Republican who this week agreed to pay $271,000 in restitution to victims and take 15 hours of training in legal ethics to settle felony charges of securities fraud. —David Koenig, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English restitucioun, from Anglo-French, from Latin restitution-, restitutio, from restituere to restore, from re- + statuere to set up — more at statute

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

restitution

noun

res·​ti·​tu·​tion ˌres-tə-ˈt(y)ü-shən 

: the giving of something back to its rightful owner or the giving of something of equal value (as for loss or damage)

Legal Definition

restitution

noun

res·​ti·​tu·​tion ˌres-tə-ˈtü-shən, -ˈtyü- 

1

a

: a restoration of something to its rightful owner

b

: a making good of or giving an equivalent for some injury

2

a

: the equitable remedy of restoring to an aggrieved party that which was obtained in unjust enrichment

b

: a remedy for breach of contract that consists of restoring the aggrieved party to the status quo that existed before the contract was made

3

: an amount to be paid for the purpose of restitution

ordered to pay restitution to the victim of his crime

compare fine

restitutional

ˌres-tə-ˈtü-shə-nəl, -ˈtyü-

adjective

restitutionary

ˌres-tə-ˈtü-shə-ˌner-ē, -ˈtyü-

adjective

restitutive

ˈres-tə-ˌtü-tiv, -ˌtyü-

adjective

restitutory

ˌres-tə-ˈtü-tə-rē, -ˈtyü-; rə-ˈsti-tyə-ˌtōr-ē

adjective