penal

adjective

pe·nal | \ˈpē-nᵊl

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

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Examples of penal in a Sentence

Australia was once a penal colony.

Recent Examples on the Web

Before hitting the mainland near Isla del Bosque with 120 mph (195 kph) winds Tuesday night, Willa swept over an offshore penal colony about 60 miles (100 kilometers) out in the Pacific. — Marco Ugarte, The Seattle Times, "Hurricane Willa moves inland after hitting Mexico coast," 23 Oct. 2018 While unlikely to ever be enforced, the specter of six-month jail sentences cast a spotlight on Santa Barbara’s penal system. — Chris Irvine, Fox News, "Santa Barbara backpedals on jail time for plastic straw offenders," 27 July 2018 The course features narrow fairways and penal rough, as well as green complexes that are guarded by bunkers aplenty and dense rough. — Daniel Rapaport, SI.com, "Quicken Loans National Preview: History, Field, Odds, Predictions," 27 June 2018 The new version removes the penal provisions and is likely to allow Poland to repair its international standing and relationship with its allies. — Washington Post, "Polish government backs away from disputed Holocaust law," 27 June 2018 When the World Cup started in Russia on Thursday, Oleg Sentsov was on day 32 of his hunger strike in a northern Siberian penal colony. — Sabra Ayres, latimes.com, "Ukrainian film director on hunger strike in a Russian prison casts dark cloud over World Cup," 19 June 2018 Is the answer to quarantine him in a penal colony …? — Vahe Gregorian, kansascity, "The Royals are considering trying to sign Luke Heimlich. Here's why they shouldn't," 25 June 2018 Williams returns to his old community, which is shadowed by a fortress-like jail on a hill, to learn about how the penal system oppresses African-Americans and the poor. — Peter Keough, BostonGlobe.com, "Doc Talk: Prison reform, computer games, gay marriage, silent Super 8," 21 June 2018 Sydney was one of two penal colonies the British established in Australia (the other was in Hobart, way south in Tasmania). — Mark Ellwood, Condé Nast Traveler, "How Sydney Became an LGBTQ Destination," 13 June 2018

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.