WorldJuly 9, 2026

reprisal

/rɪˈpraɪ.zəl/

Definition

An act of retaliation or counterattack taken against an enemy in response to a hostile military action.

Etymology

Derived from the Middle French 'reprisaille,' which stems from the Late Latin 'reprehendere,' meaning 'to seize back.' It entered Middle English through Old French to describe the historical practice of seizing goods or persons as compensation for an injury.

In the news

In the article, the term describes the expected Iranian counterattacks against U.S. and allied forces following the U.S.-led Operation Midnight Hammer. It highlights the escalatory dangers of the administration's unilateral military strikes.

One Man’s War

Read the full article ↗

Foreign Affairs

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