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

The jury in the civil case awarded Vaccaro $500,000 in compensatory damages, but she was not awarded punitive damages. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 14 Oct. 2026

Jurors declined to award any damages for future pain and suffering and did not impose punitive damages. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2026

Lakeeta Vaccaro Hill was denied punitive damages by the six-person jury that deliberated for less than four hours. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

The jury awarded Vaccaro $500,000 in compensatory damages but did not award her punitive damages. — ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

punitive damages

see also:

damage sense 2