buyback
noun
Buyback — the corporate or commercial repurchase of previously sold assets
Definition
The act of purchasing back something previously sold
In depth
A buyback is the act of purchasing back something previously sold, functioning essentially as a plain, accessible synonym for 'repurchase,' particularly common in describing corporate share buyback programs. The word's casual, compound construction makes it the natural choice in everyday business journalism and conversation.
Origin
The word is a transparent English compound, joining 'buy' with 'back,' both ancient, thoroughly assimilated Germanic terms. Its plain construction reflects modern financial journalism's general preference for accessible, jargon-light vocabulary capable of communicating complex corporate finance concepts to a broad general readership.
Usage examples
"The company announced a major buyback program, intending to repurchase a significant portion of its outstanding shares."
"Critics questioned whether the buyback served shareholders' long-term interests or merely short-term stock price manipulation."
"The farmer negotiated a buyback agreement for the land he had sold years earlier during a difficult harvest season."
How to use it
Buyback is accessible, widely used vocabulary in business and financial journalism, functioning interchangeably with the more formal 'repurchase' but carrying a more casual, conversational register.
Related concepts
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