Question

retribution The victims' families have been clamoring for retribution, sometimes even interrupting the trial proceedings. ˌrɛtrəˈbjuʃən

Accepted Answer

Something given in payment for a wrong; punishment. With its prefix re-, meaning “back,” retribution means literally “payback.” And indeed we usually use it when talking about personal revenge, whether it's retribution for an insult in a high-school corridor or retribution for a guerrilla attack on a government building. But retribution isn't always so personal: God takes “divine retribution” on humans several times in the Old Testament, especially in the great Flood that wipes out almost the entire human race. And retribution for criminal acts, usually in the form of a prison sentence, is taken by the state, not the victims.

word	retribution
definition	Something given in payment for a wrong; punishment.
eg_sentence	The victims' families have been clamoring for retribution, sometimes even interrupting the trial proceedings.
explanation	With its prefix re-, meaning “back,” retribution means literally “payback.” And indeed we usually use it when talking about personal revenge, whether it's retribution for an insult in a high-school corridor or retribution for a guerrilla attack on a government building. But retribution isn't always so personal: God takes “divine retribution” on humans several times in the Old Testament, especially in the great Flood that wipes out almost the entire human race. And retribution for criminal acts, usually in the form of a prison sentence, is taken by the state, not the victims.
IPA	ˌrɛtrəˈbjuʃən

Retribution Payment Wrong Punishment Victims Families Clamoring Interrupting