Which term denotes punishment inflicted in response to wrongdoing?

• A. Retribution
• B. Metonymy
• C. Irony
• D. Allegory

Answer: (A)

Retribution is the idea of punishment given in response to wrongdoing. It centers on the notion of just deserts—the offender receives punishment because that is what they deserve for their actions. This differs from metonymy, a figure of speech where something closely associated with something else stands for it; irony, a contrast between what is expected and what happens; and allegory, a narrative technique where characters and events symbolize deeper moral or political meanings. So, among the options, retribution best captures the concept of punishment in response to wrongdoing.