reprisal
[ ri-prahy-zuhl ]
/ rɪˈpraɪ zəl /
noun
(in warfare) retaliation against an enemy, for injuries received, by the infliction of equal or greater injuries.
an act or instance of retaliation.
the action or practice of using force, short of war, against another nation, to secure redress of a grievance.
the forcible seizure of property or subjects in retaliation.
Origin of reprisal
synonym study for reprisal
1. See
revenge.
OTHER WORDS FROM reprisal
non·re·pris·al, nounWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH reprisal
reprisal repriseWords nearby reprisal
repressor gene,
reprieval,
reprieve,
reprimand,
reprint,
reprisal,
reprise,
repristinate,
reprivatize,
repro,
repro proof
Example sentences from the Web for reprisal
British Dictionary definitions for reprisal
reprisal
/ (rɪˈpraɪzəl) /
noun
(often plural)
retaliatory action against an enemy in wartime, such as the execution of prisoners of war, destruction of property, etc
the act or an instance of retaliation in any form
(formerly) the forcible seizure of the property or subjects of one nation by another
Word Origin for reprisal
C15: from Old French
reprisaille, from Old Italian
ripresaglia, from
riprendere to recapture, from Latin
reprehendere to hold fast; see
reprehend
Cultural definitions for reprisal
reprisal
An act by which a nation seeks, short of war, to redress a wrong committed against it by another nation. Boycotts and blockades are common forms of reprisal.