repercussions - Master This Word
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repercussions Word Meanings
- a consequence or effect, especially one that is unwelcome
- an echo or reverberation
- a sound that is reflected back
repercussions Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
repercussions Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ˌriːpəˈkʌʃən/
US
/ˌriːpərˈkʌʃən/
repercussions Word Etymology
Repercussion is derived from the Latin 'repercussio' (re- = back + percussio = striking). It came through Old French into English. Imagine a ball bouncing back after being thrown against a wall, illustrating the ripple effects of our actions.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputReal Context
Repercussion refers to a consequence or effect that follows an action, often a negative one, and to echo or reverberation in a broader sense. In everyday use, it highlights cause and effect, as when a policy change has unintended repercussions across different groups. The word also captures the sense of a sound reflecting back after a strike, a metaphor readers can picture in their minds. Learners should note that repercussion is usually plural when referring to multiple outcomes, but can be used in singular to describe a single notable consequence. The nuance is about the knock on effects that come later, sometimes long after the initial event.
Usage Reminders
- Repercussion is often plural for several outcomes.
- It usually implies a negative or unwelcome result.
- Use with verbs like have, result in, or follow from.
- It can mean an echo metaphorically, not a literal sound echo.
- Avoid confusing with general words like effect or consequence when you need a sharper sense of chain reactions.
Common Misconceptions
- It only refers to immediate effects, not long term ones.
- It always describes something punitive or punishment-like.
- It is a synonym for echo in a literal sense.
- It cannot be used for positive outcomes.
- It is a casual, everyday word with no formal nuance.
Thinking Differences
In English, repercussion is a formal noun used for indirect, often negative consequences that follow an action; learners tend to think it only means punishment or immediate results, and may mix it up with echo in everyday speech.
Learning Tips
- Learn common collocations with repercussion: have, lead to, bring about repercussion(s).
- Distinguish between literal echo and metaphorical repercussion.
- Practice with news headlines about policy or business to see causal chains.
- Use singular for one major consequence and plural for multiple repercussions.
- Pair with adjectives like unexpected, lasting, indirect to convey nuance.
- Record a short summary of a story focusing on the repercussions.
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