punitive

adjective

pu·​ni·​tive ˈpyü-nə-tiv How to pronounce punitive (audio)
: inflicting, involving, or aiming at punishment
severe punitive measures
punitively adverb
punitiveness noun

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Punitive and the Law

Punitive is an important word in the law. When you sue a person or company for having wronged you in some way, you normally ask for something of value equal to what you were deprived of by the other party. But when the defendant has done something particularly bad, you may also ask for punitive damages, money over and above the actual cost of the harm done, intended to teach the defendant a lesson. Punitive damages are fairly rare, but when they're actually granted they may be as much as four times the size of the basic damages.

Examples of punitive in a Sentence

The federal government will take punitive action against the company that polluted the river. Lobbyists complain that the bill would impose punitive taxes on the industry.
Recent Examples on the Web In his Saturday interview, Biden said that an Israeli invasion of Rafah would be a red line, before adding in the same breath that crossing it would not result in punitive measures against Israel. Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024 The number of cars the U.S. imports from China barely registers due to punitive tariffs of 25% imposed on top of the standard 2.5% import duty. Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2024 This happened to a mother of three, who explains in an exclusive interview how she became ensnared in a global law enforcement network that is unfortunately sometimes used in a punitive way. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 23 Feb. 2024 Any program that practices punitive, shameful, controlling, coercive, intimidating behavior should be reprimanded, if not shut down. Sara M Moniuszko, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024 McGuire retail theft, fentanyl package Voters approved Proposition 47 as part of a larger effort to reform punitive state sentencing laws of the 1980s and 1990s. Lindsey Holden, Sacramento Bee, 27 Feb. 2024 In California’s punitive system, those in the highest bracket pay 13.30 percent. K. Lloyd Billingsley, Orange County Register, 25 Feb. 2024 Russia has shown remarkable resilience despite punitive sanctions. Jacob Turcotte, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Feb. 2024 Advocates hail the shift as progress that helps parolees better reenter society by reducing punitive prison stays and increasing support for those coming out of prison. Shelly Bradbury, The Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'punitive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

French punitif, from Medieval Latin punitivus, from Latin punitus, past participle of punire

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of punitive was in 1593

Dictionary Entries Near punitive

Cite this Entry

“Punitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punitive. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

punitive

adjective
pu·​ni·​tive ˈpyü-nət-iv How to pronounce punitive (audio)
1
: of or relating to punishment or penalties
punitive law
2
: intended to inflict punishment
a punitive expedition against outlaws
punitively adverb

Legal Definition

punitive

adjective
pu·​ni·​tive ˈpyü-nə-tiv How to pronounce punitive (audio)
: inflicting, involving, or aiming at punishment
punitively adverb
punitiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on punitive

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