Payback
'peɪbæk
Definitions
2 meaningsRetribution, revenge, or a return for a wrong done.
'peɪbæk
An act of retaliation or revenge.
After years of feeling wronged, she was finally able to exact her payback.
💡 Simply: Imagine someone messes with you. Payback is when you get them back, like when you finally get to play the prank back after getting pranked.
👶 For kids: When someone does something bad to you, payback is when you do something bad back to them.
More Examples
The company promised payback on its competitors after the lawsuit.
His silence after the argument was a form of payback.
How It's Used
"The politician promised payback for the smear campaign."
"She plotted payback for the prank her friends pulled on her."
The recovery of an investment or a return on an expenditure.
'peɪbæk
A return of money or something of value.
The company calculated the payback period on their new equipment.
💡 Simply: Imagine you buy something expensive, like a video game, and then you're enjoying playing it for many hours. Payback is how much time you spend on the game. Payback is how long it takes to make back the money you invested.
👶 For kids: Getting your money back for something you bought.
More Examples
The investment promised a quick payback.
Investors are always concerned with the payback from their endeavors.
How It's Used
"The project's payback period was estimated at five years."
"The company calculated the payback from their investment in new technology."
Idioms & expressions
Payback period
The length of time required for an investment to generate cash flows sufficient to cover its initial cost.
"The financial analysis showed a payback period of three years for the new solar panel installation."
From 'pay' + 'back'. The term emerged in the late 19th century, initially referring to a repayment or return for something given or done. Its usage expanded to encompass revenge or retribution in the mid-20th century.
The term was initially used to denote the repayment of debt or services rendered. The meaning shifted to include revenge around the mid-20th century.
Memory tip
Think of getting your money back, but instead of money, it's a bad deed returned.