Repercussion: An Effect That Comes Back

Wait... Is It Just Any Result?

Often it means an unwanted result that comes after an action. A repercussion strikes back at you, like an echo. Not every result is a repercussion. Good results are usually called outcomes or benefits.

A nice surprise after a good deed? ❌ That's a result.
A cost that comes back after a bad choice? ✅ That's a repercussion.

What Does Repercussion Mean?

A repercussion is an effect, usually unwanted, that follows from an action or event.

Skipping revision had repercussions: the whole class failed the quiz.

🔊 Pronunciation

ree-per-KUSH-un

The stress is on the third part: KUSH. The ending is un.

🗣️ Natural Examples

The broken promise had serious repercussions for the friendship.
"There will be repercussions if you lie again," said Mum.
The price rise had repercussions for families across the country.

🛠️ How to Use It

Repercussion is a formal word. It's common in news, essays and discussion of consequences.

• It's a noun, and usually in the plural: repercussions.
• It's often used with have: have repercussions.
• It's usually negative, so check the tone.

🤝 Common Word Partners

• serious repercussions
• far-reaching repercussions
• have repercussions
• the repercussions of (a decision)
• face repercussions

👨‍👩‍👧 Word Family

• repercussion (noun): an effect that comes back after an action.
• repercussions (noun, plural): the plural, common in writing.
• repercuss (verb, rare): to have a repercussion.

👯 Similar and Related Words

• consequence: the everyday word for what follows an action.
• fallout: unwanted results, often after a big event.
• backlash: a strong negative reaction.
• outcome: any result, good or bad.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

Repercussions are usually negative.
❌ The party had great repercussions for the team. (Use outcome or result.)
✅ The party had great results. / The late payment had repercussions.

Repercussion is a noun.
❌ He repercussioned the plan.
✅ The plan had repercussions.

💬 In a Conversation

Mia: I forgot to tell Sam about the trip.
Dad: Then there'll be repercussions.
Mia: Like what?
Dad: Sam will be sulky for a week.

🕵️ Where Does It Come From?

This is the OddLingo part: repercussion began with the idea of striking back.

What we can say:

• It comes from Latin repercutere, "to strike or beat back", from re- ("back") and percutere ("to strike").
• In English, the early sense was medical, about driving something back.
• The sense of an echo is recorded in the 1590s, and the modern sense of a consequence came later. Sources differ on the exact dates.

So a repercussion is a blow that comes back to you.

💡 The OddLingo Trick

Think of a repercussion as a ball bouncing back from a wall. The action throws it, and the result hits you on the way back.