Definition of punishment
1 : the act of punishing
2a : suffering, pain, or loss that serves as retributionb : a penalty inflicted on an offender through judicial procedure
3 : severe, rough, or disastrous treatment
People Are Reading
Examples of punishment in a sentence
I took away my daughter's car keys as a punishment for her bad behavior.
The punishments that the government has inflicted on the protesters are severe and unjust.
The punishment for murder is life imprisonment.
Some religions teach that wicked people will suffer eternal punishment in hell after they die.
15th Century
First Known Use of punishment
15th century
PUNISHMENT Defined for English Language Learners
punishment
playDefinition of punishment for English Language Learners
-
: the act of punishing someone or a way of punishing someone
-
: the state of being punished
-
: rough physical treatment
PUNISHMENT Defined for Kids
punishment
playDefinition of punishment for Students
1 : the act of making a wrongdoer suffer : the state of being made to suffer for wrongdoing
2 : the penalty for a wrong or crime
Word Root of punishment
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
punishment
Legal Definition of punishment
1 : the act of punishing
2 : a penalty (as a fine or imprisonment) inflicted on an offender through the judicial and especially criminal process — see also cruel and unusual punishment
Learn More about punishment
-
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for punishment Spanish Central: Translation of punishment Nglish: Translation of punishment for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of punishment for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up punishment? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!