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
Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
Time and again over the past decade, Beijing’s actions—from punitive economic measures against major trading partners to maritime harassment of rival territorial claimants in the South China Sea—have invited pushback from countries that prize their autonomy.
—Jeffrey Prescott, Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2025
Then, just before voting to pass the bill last month, the House adopted an amendment that raised the fines to $25,000 for an initial violation and $125,000 for subsequent offenses, making the measure the most financially punitive bathroom restriction in the country, according to The Texas Tribune.
—Jo Yurcaba, NBC news, 23 Sep. 2025
But the Heat does have some breathing room from the punitive first apron of $195.9 million and the dreaded second apron of $207.8 million.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 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 4 Oct. 2025.
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punitive
adjective
Legal Definition
punitive
adjective
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