poetic justice

noun

1. an ideal distribution of rewards and punishments such as is common in some poetry and fiction.

poetic justice

noun

1. fitting retribution; just deserts

Word History and Origins

Origin of poetic justice¹

First recorded in 1720–30

Idioms and Phrases

An outcome in which virtue is rewarded and evil punished, often in an especially appropriate or ironic manner. For example, It was poetic justice for the known thief to go to jail for the one crime he didn't commit . [Early 1700s]

Example Sentences

Reality competitions switch up their rules all the time—thanks in large part to contracts with cast members that grant them an insane amount of freedom to play around—but rarely with the aim of enacting poetic justice.

From Time

Or perhaps poetic justice demands that the life of an unstoppably prolix author be parceled out in multiple, overlapping volumes.

From The Daily Beast

Esposito: I thought it was poetic justice that Gus would go with Tio.

From The Daily Beast

It is either poetic justice or a desperate attempt by Rupert Murdoch to stop the bleeding.

From The Daily Beast

Bush took firing U.S. Attorneys to a whole new level so it would be poetic justice if President Obama purged the DoJ.

From The Daily Beast

This seems to be a striking illustration of "poetic justice."

From Project Gutenberg

I had not dared to hope for such a complete triumph of poetic justice as occurred.

From Project Gutenberg

In short, your elementary class demands poetic justice—demands it strong and desires it quick.

From Project Gutenberg

Romantic as his exploit was, it lacked the fulness of poetic justice, since the chief offender escaped him.

From Project Gutenberg

The public of Priorton did not know whether most to admire Mrs. Spottiswoode's diplomacy, or this rare instance of poetic justice.

From Project Gutenberg