corporal punishment

noun

Definition of corporal punishment

: punishment that involves hitting someone : physical punishment The school banned corporal punishment many years ago.

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More Definitions for corporal punishment

corporal punishment

noun

cor·po·ral punishment | \ ˈkȯr-pə-rəl-\

Legal Definition of corporal punishment

: punishment inflicted on a person's body — see also cruel and unusual punishment

Note: The prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment in the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution imposes limits on the use of corporal punishment on convicted offenders and prisoners. The U.S. Supreme Court has found the Eighth Amendment to be inapplicable to the use of corporal punishment on schoolchildren.

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