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Definition of repercussion noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

repercussion

noun
 
/ˌriːpəˈkʌʃn/
 
/ˌriːpərˈkʌʃn/
 [usually plural]
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  1. an indirect and usually bad result of an action or event that may happen some time afterwards synonym consequence
    • The collapse of the company will have repercussions for the whole industry.
    Synonyms resultresultconsequence ▪ outcome ▪ repercussionThese are all words for a thing that is caused because of something else.result a thing that is caused or produced by something else:
    • She died as a result of her injuries.
    • This book is the result of 25 years of research.
    consequence (rather formal) a result of something that has happened, especially a bad result:
    • This decision could have serious consequences for the industry.
    Consequences is used most frequently to talk about possible negative results of an action. It is commonly used with such words as adverse, dire, disastrous, fatal, harmful, negative, serious, tragic and unfortunate. Even when there is no adjective, consequences often suggests negative results.     outcome the result of an action or process:
    • We are waiting to hear the final outcome of the negotiations.
     result or outcome?Result is often used to talk about things that are caused directly by something else: Aggression is often the result of fear. Outcome is more often used to talk about what happens at the end of a process when the exact relation of cause and effect is less clear: Aggression is often the outcome of fear. Result is often used after an event to talk about what happened. Outcome is often used before an action or process to talk about what is likely to happen.repercussion (rather formal) an indirect and usually bad result of an action or event that may happen some time afterwards.Patterns
    • to have consequences/​repercussions for somebody/​something
    • with the result/​consequence/​outcome that…
    • a(n)/the possible result/​consequences/​outcome/​repercussions
    • a(n)/the likely/​inevitable result/​consequences/​outcome
    • (a/​an) negative results/​consequences/​outcome/​repercussions
    • far-reaching/​serious results/​consequences/​repercussions
    • to have a result/​consequences/​an outcome/​repercussions
    Extra Examples
    • Anne felt the repercussions of the earlier incident.
    • Changes in the industry had major repercussions for the local community.
    • The international repercussions are still being felt today.
    • The pay cuts are likely to have serious repercussions on productivity.
    • The repercussions of the change in policy will be felt throughout Europe.
    • These actions have potential repercussions.
    • a resident who did not want to be named for fear of repercussions
    Topics Change, cause and effectc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • considerable
    • important
    • major
    • …
    verb + repercussion
    • have
    • feel
    • suffer
    • …
    repercussion + verb
    • be felt
    preposition
    • repercussion for
    • repercussion on
    phrases
    • for fear of repercussions
    • without fear of repercussions
    See full entry
    Word Originlate Middle English (as a medical term meaning ‘repressing of infection’): from Old French, or from Latin repercussio(n-), from repercutere ‘cause to rebound, push back’, from re- ‘back, again’ + percutere ‘to strike’. The early sense ‘driving back, rebounding’ (mid 16th cent.) gave rise later to ‘blow given in return’, which led to the current sense (early 20th cent.).
See repercussion in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
Check pronunciation: repercussion

Nearby words

fever
noun
 
 
From the Topic
Health problems
B2
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