punitive damages

plural noun

: damages awarded in excess of compensation to the plaintiff to punish a defendant for a serious wrong

Examples of punitive damages in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Her attorneys will also seek at least three times that in punitive damages. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025 The lawsuit seeks restitution, punitive damages, and a court order requiring Spotify to disclose whether Discovery Mode is tainted by money or royalty deals. Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025 The Times is also seeking compensatory and punitive damages from Wayfarer, citing New York’s anti-SLAPP law. Angela Yang, NBC news, 3 Nov. 2025 As a result, the hospital was asked to pay the family $211,451,174, in addition to another $50 million in punitive damages. Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for punitive damages

Word History

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of punitive damages was in 1858

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Cite this Entry

“Punitive damages.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punitive%20damages. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.

Legal Definition

punitive damages

see damage sense 2

More from Merriam-Webster on punitive damages

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