punitive damages

plural noun

: damages awarded in excess of compensation to the plaintiff to punish a defendant for a serious wrong

Examples of punitive damages in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Dillon is seeking compensatory and punitive damages for violations of her rights protected by the Fourth and 14th Amendments. — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 25 July 2026

Depp was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages from Heard, while Heard was awarded $2 million in compensatory damages. — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 23 July 2026

Compensatory damages for personal physical injuries are generally tax-free, but punitive damages and interest are always taxable. — Robert W. Wood, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

The jury awarded her $3 million in damages and recommended an additional $3 million in punitive damages. — Kaitlyn Huamani, Fortune, 15 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

punitive damages

see also:

damage sense 2