To reprimand someone means to scold them formally or officially for doing something wrong. It's more serious than a casual “don't do that” from a parent or friend. A teacher might reprimand a student for repeatedly disrupting class. A boss might reprimand an employee for being consistently late to work. A coach might reprimand a player for poor sportsmanship.

The key difference between a reprimand and everyday correction is its formal nature. When you get reprimanded, the person in authority is making it clear that your behavior crossed a line and must change. A reprimand can become part of an official record: a written reprimand might go in a school file or work record.

The word can work as a noun too: “The principal issued a reprimand to the students who vandalized the bathroom.” Getting reprimanded feels worse than a simple reminder because it signals that someone with authority has taken your mistake seriously.