comeuppance

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˌkʌmˈʌpəns/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˌkʌmˈʌpəns/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(kum′up′əns)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
come•up•pance /ˌkʌmˈʌpəns/USA pronunciation   n. [countable* usually singular]
  1. Informal Termsa scolding or punishment deserved:got his comeuppance when he came to work late.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
come•up•pance  (kum′up′əns),USA pronunciation n. [Informal.]
  1. Informal Termsdeserved reward or just deserts, usually unpleasant:He finally got his comeuppance for his misbehavior.
  • from phrase come up + -ance 1855–60, American.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
comeuppance / ˌkʌmˈʌpəns/
  1. just retribution
Etymology: 19th Century: from come up (in the sense: to appear before a judge or court for judgment)
'comeuppance' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
course

Forum discussions with the word(s) "comeuppance" in the title:


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