reprehension: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “reprehension” mean?
A formal or severe expression of disapproval or criticism.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A formal or severe expression of disapproval or criticism; a rebuke.
The act or instance of being officially censured for morally wrong or shameful conduct.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition or usage. It is equally formal and rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Connotes a formal, often public or official, rebuke for a moral or ethical failing.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both corpora; slightly more likely in formal writing than speech.
Grammar
How to Use “reprehension” in a Sentence
reprehension for (something/doing something)reprehension from (an authority/body)subject someone to reprehensionVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “reprehension” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The headmaster was forced to reprehend the pupil for the vandalism.
- Such conduct is difficult to reprehend strongly enough.
American English
- The ethics board will reprehend any violation of the code.
- His actions were reprehended in the official report.
adverb
British English
- He acted reprehensibly, with total disregard for the consequences.
- The funds were reprehensibly misappropriated.
American English
- The company behaved reprehensibly in covering up the data breach.
- She was reprehensibly negligent in her duties.
adjective
British English
- His behaviour was utterly reprehensible and brought shame on the club.
- The report detailed a series of reprehensible safety lapses.
American English
- The court found his conduct morally reprehensible.
- It was a reprehensible act of fraud against the elderly.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in formal reports on ethical misconduct, e.g., 'The committee's actions warranted severe reprehension.'
Academic
Used in ethics, philosophy, and legal texts discussing blame and moral judgement, e.g., 'The theory addresses the grounds for moral reprehension.'
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would sound overly formal or archaic.
Technical
Not commonly used in technical fields outside of specific philosophical or theological discourse.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “reprehension”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “reprehension”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “reprehension”
- Misspelling as 'reprehenshion' or 'reprehention'.
- Using it as a verb (the verb is 'reprehend').
- Confusing it with 'apprehension' (fear/understanding).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Reprimand' often implies an official, authoritative rebuke, often in a hierarchical context (e.g., workplace, military). 'Reprehension' is broader, focusing on the severe criticism itself, often for moral failings, and can come from any quarter (public, peers).
No, it is a low-frequency, formal word. The related adjective 'reprehensible' is significantly more common in modern usage.
It is overwhelmingly used for actions considered morally blameworthy. Using it for minor mistakes or technical errors would sound odd and overly dramatic.
The verb is 'reprehend'. However, it is even rarer and more formal than the noun. In most contexts, verbs like 'censure', 'condemn', or 'rebuke' are used instead.
A formal or severe expression of disapproval or criticism.
Reprehension is usually formal in register.
Reprehension: in British English it is pronounced /ˌrɛprɪˈhɛnʃ(ə)n/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌrɛprɪˈhɛnʃ(ə)n/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a REpresentative giving a harsh, PREHENSILE (grasping) critique — a RE-PREHEN-SION.
Conceptual Metaphor
CRITICISM IS A PHYSICAL BLOW/FORCE ('He faced a storm of public reprehension').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest synonym for 'reprehension' in a formal context?