Legal Definitions - reprisal

Definition: Reprisal is a term used in international law to describe the use of force, which is less than war, against another country to address an injury caused by that country. It is often used as a way to retaliate against a country that has caused harm or damage to another country.

Example: If one country imposes trade sanctions on another country, the affected country may respond with reprisals by imposing similar trade sanctions on the first country. This is a way for the affected country to retaliate against the first country without going to war.

This example illustrates how reprisals can be used as a way to address grievances between countries without resorting to war. It is a way for countries to assert their rights and protect their interests without escalating the situation into a full-blown conflict.