What does reprimanded mean?
Reprimanded is the past tense and past participle of reprimand, a formal word for criticizing someone because of a mistake, misconduct, or failure to meet expected standards. It often suggests a warning from a person with authority, such as a manager, teacher, judge, or committee member, although it can also describe a less formal but pointed telling-off. In a sentence such as “The supervisor reprimanded the worker for missing the deadline,” the word conveys both disapproval and the possibility of further consequences. Reprimanded is commonly used in reports of workplace discipline, legal proceedings, education, and institutional settings. It is stronger and more formal than simply saying that someone was criticized, but less severe than dismissal or legal punishment. The word combines the prefix re-, meaning back or again, with a Latin root associated with pressing or suppressing.
verbReprimanded means to criticize or formally rebuke someone for a mistake or unacceptable behavior.
- To criticize or formally rebuke someone for a mistake or unacceptable behavior.
"The committee reprimanded the employee for failing to follow the established procedure."
"The judge reprimanded the witness for speaking out of turn."
"She reprimanded her children gently for leaving the toys scattered across the floor."
To be reprimanded is to be formally told that your conduct falls short of what is expected.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does reprimanded come from?
The word comes through French from Latin reprimere, formed from re- and premere, meaning to press back or repress. In English, the noun reprimand and the verb reprimand developed in the sixteenth century from this broader history of suppression and restraint. The modern sense of formally rebuking someone developed from the idea of checking or restraining improper behavior.
Related word forms
How reprimanded is actually used
More formal and serious than an ordinary criticism; it can imply a recorded or official warning, depending on context.