First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
reprisal
noun re·pri·sal \ri-ˈprī-zəl\
: something that is done to hurt or punish someone who has hurt you or done something bad to you
Full Definition of REPRISAL
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
obsolete : prize
3
: the regaining of something (as by recapture)
4
: something (as a sum of money) given or paid in restitution —usually used in plural
5
: a retaliatory act
See reprisal defined for English-language learners
See reprisal defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of REPRISAL
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
Related to REPRISAL
Other Government and Politics Terms
REPRISAL Defined for Kids
reprisal
noun re·pri·sal \ri-ˈprī-zəl\
Definition of REPRISAL for Kids
: an act in return for harm done by another : an act of revenge
Learn More About REPRISAL
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: reprise (noun)Previous Word in the Dictionary: reprinterAll Words Near: reprisal
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up reprisal? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).