What does repurchase mean?
Repurchase means to buy something again. A business may repurchase unsold stock, return goods to a supplier, or buy back its own shares, while a buyer may agree to repurchase a used car or other property under a contract. The term is especially common in commerce, law, and finance, where the circumstances, price, and time limit of the transaction are often stated explicitly. In general use, it simply means acquiring the same goods or assets for a second time. As a noun, a repurchase refers to the transaction itself or to an agreement providing for such a transaction. Unlike the basic word purchase, repurchase clearly emphasizes a repeated buying act. It is also distinct from resale, which means selling something again without necessarily being the party that originally bought it.
To buy something again, especially after previously selling, returning, or disposing of it.
"The company will repurchase shares that employees acquired through its incentive plan."
Common in commercial, legal, and financial contexts. It may also mean buying an item from its original buyer under a previously agreed arrangement.
The act or transaction of buying something again, or an agreement to do so.
"The repurchase of unsold merchandise helped the distributor reduce its inventory."
The noun is less frequent than the verb and is especially associated with contractual and financial arrangements.
The plural is used when referring to multiple transactions or agreements involving the purchase of something again.
"The two share repurchases were approved before the end of the financial year."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of repurchase
Repurchase was formed in the 19th century by combining the prefix re-, meaning again, with purchase. Purchase entered Middle English from Old French and belongs to an etymological family ultimately based on Latin persequi, meaning to follow or pursue. Related forms include purchaser and pursuit, although their modern meanings and grammatical roles have developed differently.
Related word forms
How repurchase is actually used
Repurchase is especially common in commercial, legal, and financial contexts. It can describe a company buying back its own shares, buying goods from a customer or distributor, or agreeing to buy an item again under specified conditions. The noun is less common than the verb.
Easily confused with repurchase
A purchase is a first-time or ordinary acquisition, whereas a repurchase means buying the same goods or assets again.