Definition of penal
1 : of, relating to, or involving punishment, penalties, or punitive institutions
2 : liable to punishment a penal offense
3 : used as a place of confinement and punishment a penal colony
From the M-W Editors
Examples of penal in a Sentence
Australia was once a penal colony.
Recent Examples of penal from the Web
-
The Vatican tribunal, which roughly follows the Italian penal code, has jurisdiction over crimes committed on Vatican territory, or by Vatican citizens or public officials.
-
According to the Texas penal code, though, a fight including seven or more participants is considered a riot.
-
Symptoms are often undetected in women while men can experience painful urination or a penal discharge.
-
If convicted, these young people will have traded the sanctuary that Covenant House was offering them for the disrespect and dehumanization of the penal system.
-
As satisfying as UAB taking the penal approach might be on a gut level, Robinson is going to be punished for his crimes, and his crimes have nothing to do with his time as a UAB basketball player.
-
Mr. Raza was initially charged under a section of the penal code that punishes derogatory remarks about other religious personalities for up to two years.
-
Saifuddin Hassan, of New Haven, said opponents of Islam are mistaking the Islamic penal code, which specifies harsh punishments for lawbreakers, as the voice of the religion.
-
Correctional officers notified the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office, which booked Powe with introduction of contraband into a penal institution.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'penal.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
A state or country's penal code defines its crimes and describes its punishments. During the 18th and 19th centuries, many countries established penal colonies, where criminals were sent as punishment. Often these were unbearably severe; but it was to such colonies that some of Australia's and the United States' early white inhabitants came, and the convicts provided labor for the European settlement of these lands.
Origin and Etymology of penal
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin poenalis, from poena punishment — more at pain
Other Legal Terms
PENAL Defined for English Language Learners
penal
playDefinition of penal for English Language Learners
-
: relating to or used for punishment
-
: very severe
PENAL Defined for Kids
penal
playDefinition of penal for Students
: relating to or used for punishment
Word Root of penal
The Latin word poena, meaning “punishment,” gives us the root pen or pun. Words from the Latin poena have something to do with punishments. A penalty is a punishment for doing something wrong. Anything penal, such as a group of laws, explains punishments for specific crimes. Punish and punishment also come from poena.
Law Dictionary
Learn More about penal
-
See words that rhyme with penal Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for penal Spanish Central: Translation of penal Nglish: Translation of penal for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of penal for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up penal? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!