 This section starts with a brief note on the etymological origins of “retributivism”. Most prominent retributive theorists have converged, however, on the second of the meanings given below: “positive retributivism”. Some argue, on substantive grounds, for a limited variation on retributivism: “negative retributivism”. Other limited applications of the idea are picked up by “limiting retributivism” and “communicative retributivism”. After surveying these limited versions of retributivism, I turn to three ideas that are sometimes confused with retributivism: lex talionis, retrospective criminal justice, and sublimated vengeance.