buy-back
B2Formal/Business/Finance
Definition
Meaning
The act or process of buying something back, especially something previously sold.
A corporate finance or securities transaction where a company repurchases its own shares from the market. In retail/commerce, a scheme where a seller agrees to repurchase an item from the buyer at a later date, often at a predetermined price.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun; can function attributively as in 'buy-back scheme'. In finance, synonymous with 'share repurchase'. Implies a prior sale and a subsequent reversal of that transaction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in core meaning. More frequent in American financial news.
Connotations
Financially neutral in both. In commerce, can imply a guarantee or reassurance for the buyer.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English financial contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The company [verb: announced/authorised/conducted/completed] a buy-back.A buy-back of [object: shares/debt/assets].The buy-back was [adj: substantial/successful/ongoing].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Buy-back bonanza (financial journalism)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The board approved a £500 million share buy-back to return capital to shareholders.
Academic
The study analysed the market impact of announced buy-backs on stock volatility.
Everyday
The furniture shop has a buy-back scheme if you want to upgrade in two years.
Technical
The buy-back was executed via an accelerated bookbuild offering.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The company aims to buy back up to 5% of its issued shares.
American English
- The board voted to buy back stock to offset dilution.
adjective
British English
- The buy-back programme proved popular with investors.
American English
- The buyback offer was oversubscribed.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The shop has a good buy-back policy for old phones.
- The government initiated a buy-back of illegal firearms.
- Critics argue that large buy-backs artificially inflate earnings per share.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a shop BUYING BACK the item it just sold to you.
Conceptual Metaphor
A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION IS A REVERSIBLE JOURNEY (selling out, buying back in).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation 'купить-назад'. Use 'обратный выкуп' (finance/commerce) or 'выкуп акций' (shares).
Common Mistakes
- Using as a verb phrase 'I will buy-back the car' is non-standard; prefer 'repurchase'. Confusing with 'sell-back'. Using hyphen incorrectly (buyback is also accepted).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'buy-back' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, especially in American English and financial contexts. 'Buy-back' (hyphenated) is more common in British English and general use.
The verb form is the phrasal verb 'to buy back'. 'Buy-back' itself is primarily a noun or attributive adjective.
A refund is a return of money. A buy-back is a repurchase of an item, which may involve an exchange of the item for money, often after a period of use.
No. While most common for shares/stocks, it can apply to debt, assets, products (in retail), or even weapons (in government schemes).