recoup

verb

re·​coup ri-ˈküp How to pronounce recoup (audio)
recouped; recouping; recoups

transitive verb

1
a
: to get an equivalent for (losses) : make up for
b
: reimburse, compensate
recoup a person for losses
2
: regain
an attempt to recoup his fortune

intransitive verb

: to make good or make up for something lost
also : recuperate
recoupable adjective
recoupment noun

Examples of recoup in a Sentence

It will be hard for us to recoup the loss. Movie studios can turn to video sales to recoup the costs of a movie that does poorly at the box office. She recouped only a portion of her investment.
Recent Examples on the Web Although some interpret it as a way to increase work-life balance, others define it as a way to recoup unpaid or unappreciated hours of service. Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 Just as a market darling of the dot-com era, Cisco Systems Inc., is still a successful company, but investors who bought the stock around its peak and held on are still waiting to recoup their losses — 24 years later. Esha Day, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2024 How are those levels of investments on the supply side going to be recouped? Rodrigo Madanes, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 The process is six to eight times costlier than bulldozing the waste into a hole in the ground, Mr. McQuillan estimated, although Triumvirate recoups some costs from the sale of the final products. Ted Alcorn, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2024 Then that company turns to its client to recoup the loss. Josh Dawsey, Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2024 The company borrows money, largely by issuing bonds, and awaits rate increases to recoup those costs. The Arizona Republic, 23 Feb. 2024 Simply by reducing time-to-hire, Amazon was able to recoup the minimal costs associated with helping to create the course. Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 Volunteers said the tool library would be shut down for at least one month to recoup the loss. Olivia Diaz, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'recoup.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French recouper to cut back, from Old French, from re- + couper to cut — more at cope entry 1

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of recoup was in 1628

Dictionary Entries Near recoup

Cite this Entry

“Recoup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recoup. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

recoup

verb
re·​coup ri-ˈküp How to pronounce recoup (audio)
1
: to make up for : recover
recoup a loss
2
: reimburse, compensate
recoup a person for losses
recoupment noun

Legal Definition

recoup

transitive verb
re·​coup ri-ˈküp How to pronounce recoup (audio)
: recover sense 1
would recoup the overpayment from current claims paymentsCity of Cordova v. Medicaid Rate Commn., 789 P.2d 346 (1990)

More from Merriam-Webster on recoup

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