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
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
Examples of penal in a Sentence
Australia was once a penal colony.
Recent Examples on the Web
The county prisoners held at the site were moved to Milwaukee County's new penal farm in what was then the Town of Franklin.
—
Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2024
The authorities pledged that the facility would be run in accordance with standard legal norms and penal practices, unlike its predecessor.
—Richard J. Evans, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2017
On Tuesday, Jamall Rabb Russell, 39, pleaded not guilty to charges of abuse of residents of penal facilities and misconduct in public office, and Sarah Anne Margaret Ransbottom, 35, pleaded not guilty to a charge of misconduct in public office.
—Vanessa Swales, Journal Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2024
Navalny died after languishing in Russia's brutal penal system for over 35 months.
—Jacob Knutson, Axios, 1 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for penal 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2024
The authorities pledged that the facility would be run in accordance with standard legal norms and penal practices, unlike its predecessor.
—Richard J. Evans, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2017
On Tuesday, Jamall Rabb Russell, 39, pleaded not guilty to charges of abuse of residents of penal facilities and misconduct in public office, and Sarah Anne Margaret Ransbottom, 35, pleaded not guilty to a charge of misconduct in public office.
—Vanessa Swales, Journal Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2024
Navalny died after languishing in Russia's brutal penal system for over 35 months.
—Jacob Knutson, Axios, 1 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for penal
Dictionary Entries Near penal
Cite this Entry
“Penal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penal. Accessed 17 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share