That which is given in repayment or compensation; return suitable to the merits or deserts of, as an action; commonly, condign punishment for evil or wrong
the act of taking revenge (harming someone in retaliation for something harmful that they have done) especially in the next life; "Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord"--Romans 12: 19; "For vengeance I would do nothing This nation is too great to look for mere revenge"--James Garfield; "he swore vengeance on the man who betrayed him"; "the swiftness of divine retribution"
Retribution is punishment for a crime, especially punishment which is carried out by someone other than the official authorities. He didn't want any further involvement for fear of retribution. severe punishment for something very serious retribution for (retributio, from retribuere )
A justification for punishment that argues the guilty must be punished not, or not only, for instrumental ends, but because criminal actions simply 'deserve' to be punished See also Deterrence, Rehabilitation, and Incapacitation