redeem
mediumneutral
Definition
Meaning
to regain possession of something by fulfilling a condition or paying a price; to make up for a fault or defect.
To fulfill or carry out a promise; to restore one's reputation; to save or rescue from sin, error, or evil; to convert a voucher or bond into money or goods.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The core idea of 'exchange' or 'compensation' is present in all senses. It implies an action that corrects, restores, or fulfills an obligation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or grammatical differences. Both use the same main meanings.
Connotations
The religious sense ('redeem from sin') is slightly more archaic/formal in everyday speech in both varieties. The business/financial sense is equally common.
Frequency
Usage frequency is very similar. The term is well-established in both legal/commercial and theological contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
SUBJECT redeem OBJECT (e.g., She redeemed her watch.)SUBJECT redeem OBJECT from SOURCE/STATE (e.g., He redeemed his brother from debt.)SUBJECT redeem oneself by DOING (e.g., She redeemed herself by apologising.)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “redeeming feature/quality”
- “beyond redemption”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to converting loyalty points, coupons, or financial securities into goods or cash (e.g., 'Customers can redeem their points for travel').
Academic
Used in theological/philosophical discourse about salvation, or in literary analysis of character transformation.
Everyday
Commonly used when talking about vouchers, coupons, or making up for a mistake.
Technical
In finance, the process of repurchasing a bond or security by the issuer before its maturity date.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She hoped to redeem the family honour.
- You can redeem this voucher at any participating retailer.
American English
- He redeemed his frequent flyer miles for a ticket.
- The team had one last chance to redeem themselves.
adverb
British English
- The policy was redeemably flawed, but workable.
- He acted redeemably after his initial error.
American English
- The coupon is only redeemably valid until Friday.
- She argued her case redeemably well.
adjective
British English
- The film had few redeeming features.
- A redeemable bond offers more flexibility.
American English
- Her redeeming quality was her honesty.
- The offer is not redeemable for cash.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have a coupon to redeem for a free coffee.
- He is a good friend and will redeem my book from the library.
- She worked hard to redeem her reputation after the mistake.
- How do I redeem these loyalty points online?
- The government's swift action helped to redeem a potentially disastrous situation.
- The final chapter of the novel redeems the otherwise unlikeable protagonist.
- The politician's earlier philanthropic work did little to redeem him in the eyes of the scandal-weary public.
- The concept of grace holds that one cannot redeem oneself through deeds alone.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'I need to RE-DEEM (get back) my good name after the DEED.'
Conceptual Metaphor
GOOD IS A VALUABLE POSSESSION THAT CAN BE LOST AND RECLAIMED / A MISTAKE IS A DEBT THAT MUST BE PAID.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not synonymous with simple 'return' (вернуть). It implies a specific condition or payment.
- The religious sense overlaps with 'спасать' but is more specific to the concept of paying a price for salvation.
- Do not confuse with 'redemption' (выкуп, искупление) when translating the verb form.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: *'I will redeem back my phone.' (Correct: 'I will redeem my phone.' or 'I will get my phone back.')
- Incorrect preposition: *'He redeemed on his promise.' (Correct: 'He redeemed his promise.' or 'He made good on his promise.')
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'redeem' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but this is now a formal or religious usage, e.g., 'a hero who redeems the captured prisoners' or 'believing that Christ redeems sinners.'
'Reclaim' generally means to retrieve something that was originally yours (e.g., reclaimed land). 'Redeem' implies a condition was met or a payment was made to get it back, and it's used more abstractly for reputation or promises.
It is neutral. It is standard in everyday talk about coupons and common in formal writing about finance, morality, or theology.
The main noun form is 'redemption'. There is also 'redeemer' (a person who redeems).