What does revenge mean?
Revenge is the act of retaliating against someone who has caused a wrong, injury, or humiliation. As a noun, it describes the retaliation itself, as in seeking revenge or taking revenge on an opponent. As a verb, revenge refers to the act of punishing or harming someone in return, most often in the expression “revenge oneself on” another person. The word commonly carries an emotional or personal emphasis and may suggest that the response is intended to restore the wronged person’s sense of balance, even when it is morally questionable. In sports and competition, however, it can have a less negative, more competitive meaning: a “revenge match” is simply a rematch after a defeat. Although revenge and vengeance overlap, revenge usually focuses more directly on personal retaliation, while vengeance more often evokes punishment or retribution. Related words such as avenge, vindicate, and vindictive share its historical roots.
Retaliation or punishment inflicted in return for a wrong, injury, or insult.
"He refused to seek revenge and instead pursued justice through the courts."
Often used when the emphasis is on a personal response to wrongdoing.
To retaliate against a wrongdoer or to avenge oneself, especially by punishing or harming the person responsible.
"She vowed to revenge herself on those who had destroyed her family."
Less common than the noun in formal writing; reflexive forms such as “revenge oneself” are especially frequent.
The noun is normally uncountable, though the rare plural “revenge” can occur in contexts where separate acts or instances are treated individually.
"The novel traces the character’s slow descent into a need for revenge."
The word revenge belongs to the same Latin-root family as vindicate: all begin with the idea of setting a wrong right.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does revenge come from?
Revenge entered English from Old French revengier, meaning to take vengeance or punish. The French word was influenced by Latin vindicare, “to vindicate, defend, or punish,” which also underlies English words such as vindicate, vindication, and vindictive. In English, revenge developed both noun and verb uses, while avenge retained a closer association with redressing a wrong rather than simply retaliating.
Related word forms
How revenge is actually used
The noun is common in general speech and writing, but can imply a personal and potentially morally questionable response. In sports and competitive contexts, it often refers simply to an opportunity to reverse an earlier defeat. The verb is less common in formal writing and is often used reflexively: “revenge oneself on someone.”
Easily confused with revenge
To avenge something is to compensate for a wrong or punish the person responsible, whereas to revenge oneself is more specifically to retaliate personally against the wrongdoer.
Revenge usually emphasizes a personal retaliatory act, while vengeance can refer more broadly to punishment or retribution for wrongdoing.