penal

adjective

pe·​nal ˈpē-nᵊl 

1

: of, relating to, or involving punishment, penalties, or punitive institutions

2

: liable to punishment

a penal offense

3

: used as a place of confinement and punishment

a penal colony

penally

ˈpē-nᵊl-ē 

adverb

Did you know?

A state or country's penal code defines its crimes and describes its punishments. During the 18th and 19th centuries, many countries established penal colonies, where criminals were sent as punishment. Often these were unbearably severe; but it was to such colonies that some of Australia's and the United States' early white inhabitants came, and the convicts provided labor for the European settlement of these lands.

Synonyms of penal

• punitive
• correctional

Examples of penal in a Sentence

Australia was once a penal colony.

Recent Examples on the Web

Their ruling states that investigators should not have cited penal law as justification for seizing the artwork, and reproaches a lower court’s previous approval of their methods. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 21 Sep. 2026

She had originally been charged with abuse of residents of penal facilities, a felony. — Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 21 Sep. 2026

However, an appellate court panel of judges ruled that the judge and the Manhattan District Attorney's Office inappropriately cited a penal law to seize the drawing. — Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026

The museum, spanning a former cell block wing, is a deeply informative and well curated journey through the evolution of the nation’s penal system. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin poenalis, from poena punishment — more at pain entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing penal

• penal code
• penal colony
• penal institution

Rhymes for penal

• genal
• phenyl
• renal
• venal
• adrenal
• alkenyl
• cerebrospinal
• corticospinal
• duodenal
• intrarenal
• intraspinal
• suprarenal

Kids Definition

penal

adjective

pe·​nal ˈpēn-ᵊl 

: of or relating to punishment

penal laws

a penal colony

Legal Definition

penal

adjective

pe·​nal ˈpēn-ᵊl 

1

: of, relating to, or being punishment

penal sanctions

2

: making one (as an offender) punishable

a penal offense

also : criminal sense 2

3

: used as a place of confinement and punishment

a penal institution