payback

noun

pay·​back ˈpā-ˌbak 

1

: requital

2

: a return on an investment equal to the original capital outlay

also : the period of time elapsed before an investment is recouped

Synonyms

• reprisal
• requital
• retaliation
• retribution
• revenge
• vengeance

Examples of payback in a Sentence

They beat our team last year, so we've got to beat them this year as payback.

we are hoping to get payback for the humiliating defeat we suffered at the hands of our rivals during our last matchup

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump has endorsed Good’s primary challenger, John McGuire, as payback for Good supporting Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R-FL) primary challenge against Trump. —Mabinty Quarshie, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 June 2024

Pecker said though the payback deal was signed, it was never executed. —Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2024

Erdogan’s threats to block Sweden’s accession to NATO were, in part, an effort at payback. —Henri J. Barkey, Foreign Affairs, 17 Aug. 2023

After all, there's the little matter of payback for the murder of 007's wife. —Chris Nashawaty, EW.com, 29 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1718, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing payback

• payback time