punitive
adjective
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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
Robert Goulder, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
Seven universities have been explicitly notified that their funding is in serious jeopardy or have already faced punitive cuts, according to The New York Times, which reported that Harvard University faces approximately $9 billion at stake and has received a list of federal demands.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 July 2025
The new accord removes the overhang of more punitive tariffs, providing a relief rally to stocks in the sector.
—Ganesh Rao, CNBC, 28 July 2025
These findings raise concerns about due process, since immigration detention is civil in nature and not meant to be punitive.
—Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 21 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for punitive
Cite this Entry
“Punitive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punitive. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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punitive
adjective
Legal Definition
punitive
adjective
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