cash rebate

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   Money that is paid back to you after you have bought something or paid for a service.

   Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a cash rebate' or 'cash rebates'.

   Patterns

   • a cash rebate on something
   • get/receive a cash rebate
   • offer a cash rebate

   The store offered a $50 cash rebate if you bought a new phone.

   After sending in the receipt, I received a cash rebate within three weeks.

   Many utility companies give a cash rebate when you install energy-saving windows.

2. 2nouncountable

   A sum of money returned by a government or company to encourage a particular purchase or behavior.

   Grammar: Often used with 'tax' or 'government': a tax cash rebate.

   Patterns

   • tax cash rebate
   • government cash rebate
   • cash rebate program

   The city runs a cash rebate program for people who buy electric bicycles.

   Low-income families may qualify for a cash rebate on their heating bills.

   The government announced a cash rebate to help small businesses upgrade equipment.

Word forms

Common combinations

offer a cash rebate

The car dealer offered a cash rebate on last year's models.

qualify for a cash rebate

You qualify for a cash rebate if your income is below a certain level.

cash rebate check

I deposited the cash rebate check at the bank.

mail-in cash rebate

The mail-in cash rebate requires the original receipt.

Synonyms and how they differ

refund

A refund usually means getting your money back because you returned something or were overcharged; a cash rebate is often a reward for buying.

discount

A discount lowers the price before you pay, while a cash rebate is money returned to you afterward.

cashback

Cashback is the common British term for a cash rebate and can also mean money taken out with a card purchase.

Word family

rebate noun

A general word for money returned to a buyer.

rebate verb

To pay money back to someone, often as part of a deal.

Commonly confused: cash rebate or rebate?

Practice

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