Recompense vs. Restitution — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 7, 2024
Recompense is compensation for services or losses, while restitution involves restoring or compensating for wrongfully taken or damaged property.
Difference Between Recompense and Restitution
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Recompense is compensation or reward for services or efforts given or for losses and damages incurred. It aims to balance the effort or loss with equivalent compensation, often monetary. Restitution, on the other hand, involves restoring the exact item lost or providing compensation for unlawfully taken or damaged property.
Recompense is broader, covering any payment given for effort or damage. Restitution, however, is specifically concerned with returning to a rightful state, compensating for loss or injury, often in legal contexts.
In informal settings, recompense can include monetary or non-monetary rewards. Restitution remains firmly rooted in legal or formal frameworks, ensuring fairness by restoring property or providing equitable compensation.
Recompense may be a reward or a payment for labor or loss that recognizes one's contribution or the harm suffered. Restitution, conversely, requires a party who has caused a loss or taken something to compensate or return it to its rightful owner.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Compensation for services or losses
Restoring property or compensating for loss/injury
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Scope
General compensation
Specific to restoring or compensating wrongfully taken
Context
Services, losses, and rewards
Legal matters, property rights
Reward vs. Correction
Often as a reward or acknowledgment
Primarily for correcting a wrong
Nature
Broader and more flexible
Legal and formal
Compare with Definitions
Recompense
Balancing efforts or losses with adequate payment.
The organization provided recompense to victims of the mishap.
Restitution
Compensating for a loss or injury caused unlawfully.
The court ordered restitution for damages to the injured party.
Recompense
Payment or reward for services or effort.
The artist received recompense for his commissioned work.
Restitution
Returning an injured party to the position they were in before the wrongdoing.
He had to make restitution to his friend for breaking the borrowed item.
Recompense
Compensation for loss or damage.
The company provided recompense for the defective products.
Restitution
Returning property or rights wrongfully taken.
Restitution of land was part of the settlement agreement.
Recompense
Acknowledgment for efforts or actions.
As recompense for volunteering, they offered free meals.
Restitution
Restoring something lost or stolen to its rightful owner.
The museum demanded restitution for the looted artifacts.
Recompense
Restoration of a deserved balance through payment.
He gave recompense to his neighbor after borrowing their tools.
Restitution
Restoring fairness or balance through corrective action.
Restitution was a crucial condition for resolving the dispute.
Recompense
To award compensation to
Recompensed the victims of the accident.
Restitution
The law of restitution is the law of gains-based recovery, in which a court orders the defendant to give up his gains to the claimant. It should be contrasted with the law of compensation, the law of loss-based recovery, in which a court orders the defendant to pay the claimant for their loss.
Recompense
To award compensation for; make a return for
Recompensed their injuries.
Restitution
The act of restoring to the rightful owner something that has been taken away, lost, or surrendered.
Recompense
Amends made, as for damage or loss.
Restitution
The act of making good or compensating for loss, damage, or injury; indemnification.
Recompense
Payment in return for something, such as a service.
Restitution
A return to or restoration of a previous state or position.
Recompense
An equivalent returned for anything given, done, or suffered; compensation; reward; amends; requital.
Restitution
(legal) A process of compensation for losses.
Recompense
That which compensates for an injury, or other type of harm or damage.
He offered money as recompense for the damage, but what the injured party wanted was an apology.
Restitution
The act of making good or compensating for loss or injury.
Recompense
To reward or repay (someone) for something done, given etc.
Restitution
A return or restoration to a previous condition or position.
The restitution of an elastic body
Recompense
To give compensation for an injury, or other type of harm or damage.
The judge ordered the defendant to recompense the plaintiff by paying $100.
Restitution
That which is offered or given in return for what has been lost, injured, or destroyed; compensation.
Recompense
(transitive) To give (something) in return; to pay back; to pay, as something earned or deserved.
Restitution
(medicine) The movement of rotation which usually occurs in childbirth after the head has been delivered, and which causes the latter to point towards the side to which it was directed at the beginning of labour.
Recompense
To render an equivalent to, for service, loss, etc.; to requite; to remunerate; to compensate.
He can not recompense me better.
Restitution
The act of restoring anything to its rightful owner, or of making good, or of giving an equivalent for any loss, damage, or injury; indemnification.
A restitution of ancient rights unto the crown.
He restitution to the value makes.
Recompense
To return an equivalent for; to give compensation for; to atone for; to pay for.
God recompenseth the gift.
To recompenseMy rash, but more unfortunate, misdeed.
Restitution
That which is offered or given in return for what has been lost, injured, or destroved; compensation.
Recompense
To give in return; to pay back; to pay, as something earned or deserved.
Recompense to no man evil for evil.
Restitution
The act of returning to, or recovering, a former state; as, the restitution of an elastic body.
Recompense
To give recompense; to make amends or requital.
Restitution
The movement of rotetion which usually occurs in childbirth after the head has been delivered, and which causes the latter to point towards the side to which it was directed at the beginning of labor.
Recompense
An equivalent returned for anything done, suffered, or given; compensation; requital; suitable return.
To me belongeth vengeance, and recompense.
And every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward.
Restitution
A sum of money paid in compensation for loss or injury
Recompense
Payment or reward (as for service rendered)
Restitution
The act of restoring something to its original state
Recompense
The act of compensating for service or loss or injury
Restitution
Getting something back again;
Upon the restitution of the book to its rightful owner the child was given a tongue lashing
Recompense
Make amends for; pay compensation for;
One can never fully repair the suffering and losses of the Jews in the Third Reich
She was compensated for the loss of her arm in the accident
Recompense
Make payment to; compensate;
My efforts were not remunerated
Common Curiosities
Is recompense only monetary?
No, recompense can be monetary or take other forms, like non-monetary rewards.
Can recompense apply to rewards?
Yes, recompense includes rewards given for services or efforts, acknowledging one's contributions.
Does recompense imply wrongdoing?
No, recompense doesn't inherently imply wrongdoing, as it can be a reward for effort.
Is restitution limited to property?
No, restitution can also include compensating for injury or other wrongful actions.
Is restitution always required by law?
Not always, but it's commonly mandated in legal cases to correct a wrongdoing.
What does recompense mean?
Recompense means compensating or rewarding for services, efforts, or losses.
Is restitution a legal term?
Yes, restitution often appears in legal contexts, where it involves restoring or compensating for property.
What is restitution?
Restitution is the act of restoring property or compensating for wrongfully caused loss or injury.
How is recompense different from payment?
Recompense may cover broader aspects like rewards or efforts, while payment is strictly transactional.
Is recompense common in everyday situations?
Yes, recompense frequently appears in work, services, and informal compensation contexts.
Can recompense include favors or gifts?
Yes, recompense can include non-monetary forms like favors or gifts acknowledging contribution.
What are typical scenarios involving restitution?
Restitution is typically required in legal disputes involving theft, injury, or property damage.
Does recompense have synonyms?
Yes, recompense is similar to terms like reward, compensation, and reimbursement.
Is restitution only for stolen property?
No, restitution can involve compensating for other types of wrongful damage or loss.
Does restitution mean full repayment?
Yes, restitution aims to fully restore or compensate the loss suffered.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
