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Restitution vs Retribution - What's the difference?

restitution | retribution |

As nouns the difference between restitution and retribution

is that restitution is a process of compensation for losses while retribution is punishment inflicted in the spirit of moral outrage or personal vengeance.

restitution

English

Noun

(wikipedia restitution)
  • (legal) A process of compensation for losses.
  • The act of making good or compensating for loss or injury.
  • * Spenser
  • A restitution of ancient rights unto the crown.
  • * Sandys
  • He restitution to the value makes.
  • A return or restoration to a previous condition or position.
  • the restitution of an elastic body
  • *
  • That which is offered or given in return for what has been lost, injured, or destroyed; compensation.
  • (medicine) The movement of rotation which usually occurs in childbirth after the head has been delivered, and which causes the latter to point towards the side to which it was directed at the beginning of labour.
  • Synonyms

    * (act of compensating) recompense, indemnification

    retribution

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Punishment inflicted in the spirit of moral outrage or personal vengeance.
  • *1983 , Richard A. Posner, The economics of justice m p.208:
  • *:Whereas retribution focuses on the offender's wrong, retaliation focuses on the impulse of the victim (or of those who sympathize with him) to strike back at the offender.
  • * 1999 , , Medieval crime and social control , p.73:
  • *:1. Revenge is for an injury; retribution is for a wrong.
  • *:2. Retribution sets an internal limit to the amount of the punishment according to the seriousness of the wrong; revenge need not.
  • *:3. Revenge is personal; the agent of retribution need have no special or personal tie to the victim of the wrong for which he exacts retribution.
  • *:4. Revenge involves a particular emotional tone, pleasure in the suffering of another, while retribution need involve no emotional tone.
  • Synonyms

    * See also

    Hypernyms

    * punishment

    Derived terms

    * retributionist * retributive