in kind

in kind

1. in goods rather than in money. •

The country doctor was usually paid in kind. He accepted two pigs as payment for an operation.

•

Do you have to pay tax on payments made in kind?

2. similarly; [giving] something similar to what was received. •

John punched Bill, and Bill gave it back in kind.

•

She spoke rudely to me, so I spoke to her in kind.

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{adv. phr.} In a similar way; with the same kind of thing. * /My neighbor pays me in kind for walking her dog./ * /Low returned Mary's insult in kind./