retaliation Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun action taken in return for an injury or offense
    revenge.

WordNet

Re*tal`i*a"tion noun
Definitions
  1. The act of retaliating, or of returning like for like; retribution; now, specifically, the return of evil for evil; e.g., an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
    God . . . takes what is done to others as done to himself, and by promise obloges himself to full retaliation. Calamy.
    Syn. -- Requital; reprisal; retribution; punishment.

Webster 1913