Retribution is punishment that someone receives because they did something wrong. The word carries a sense of payback or getting what you deserve: when someone faces retribution, they're experiencing consequences that match their harmful actions.

If a bully who has been tormenting classmates finally gets suspended, that suspension is a form of retribution. When a thief in a story is caught and sent to prison, that's retribution for stealing. The word suggests a deliberate response to wrongdoing, not an accident or bad luck.

Retribution differs from revenge, though people sometimes confuse them. Revenge is personal and often driven by anger: you want to hurt someone back because they hurt you. Retribution is more about justice and fairness: consequences that restore balance after someone has caused harm. When a referee penalizes a player for breaking the rules, that's retribution. When another player secretly trips that same player later, that's revenge.

You might hear someone warn, “If you keep breaking the rules, you'll face retribution eventually.” The word reminds us that actions have consequences, and those who cause harm end up answering for it.