reprimand

C2+ Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ˈrɛprəˌmænd/ UK /ˈrɛprɪmɑːnd/ See IPA manual

noun verb

Meanings

1

noun
a formal expression of disapproval; to rebuke someone sharply

The officer received a reprimand for breaking protocol.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a formal expression of... rebuke reproof censure admonition scolding reproach

Opposites

praise commendation compliment

Word family

Related forms reprimander

Etymology

From French réprimande, from Spanish reprimenda, from Latin reprimenda ('things to be repressed'), from reprimere ('to press back, check'), from re- ('back') + premere ('to press').

reprimenda Latin reprimere Latin premere Latin

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Topics

Actions & Processes Register & Style

# reprimand

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** ˈrɛprəˌmænd
**IPA (UK):** ˈrɛprɪmɑːnd

## Meanings
1. a formal expression of disapproval; to rebuke someone sharply

## Examples
- The officer received a reprimand for breaking protocol.

## Synonyms
- rebuke
- reproof
- censure
- admonition
- scolding
- reproach

## Antonyms
- praise
- commendation
- compliment

## Related Forms
- reprimander

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: reprimenda
- Root: reprimere
- Root: premere

## Etymology
From French réprimande, from Spanish reprimenda, from Latin reprimenda ('things to be repressed'), from reprimere ('to press back, check'), from re- ('back') + premere ('to press').

## AI Etymology
Reprimand comes from French réprimande, from Spanish reprimenda, from Latin reprimenda ('things to be repressed'), from reprimere ('to press back, check'), from re- ('back') + premere ('to press'). The historical chain includes Latin reprimenda, Latin reprimere, and Latin premere. Older glosses in the chain include "things to be repressed", "to press back, check", "back", and "to press", which help explain the semantic range of the modern word. Morphologically, reprimand is best read as compound and borrowing, yielding an English noun and verb shaped by both form history and later usage. In current English it functions as a noun and verb, with the sense "a formal expression of disapproval; to rebuke someone sharply". related forms include reprimander. The result is an English noun and verb whose etymology preserves the older forms while supporting the word's specialized modern meaning.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Register & Style

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reprimand

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