punitive

adjective

pu·​ni·​tive ˈpyü-nə-tiv 

: inflicting, involving, or aiming at punishment

severe punitive measures

punitively adverb

punitiveness noun

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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.

Synonyms

• castigating
• chastening
• chastising
• correcting
• correctional
• corrective
• disciplinary
• disciplining
• penal
• penalizing

Examples of punitive in a Sentence

The federal government will take punitive action against the company that polluted the river.

Lobbyists complain that the bill would impose punitive taxes on the industry.

Recent Examples on the Web

A day after the dispute between Colombia and the United States over migrant deportations, two Republican congressmen from South Florida said any country that rejects the deportation of its nationals would face sanctions or other punitive measures. —Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 28 Jan. 2025

The threat of tariffs and other punitive measures could become a key tool in the Trump administration's strategy to ensure the repatriation of undocumented immigrants. —Joel Thayer, Newsweek, 27 Jan. 2025

Research has shown that judges who have backgrounds as public defenders tend to hand down less punitive sentences and incarcerate fewer people, a fact that criminal justice reform advocates have been stressing in their praise of Biden's judicial picks. —Cooper Burton, ABC News, 16 Jan. 2025

Litigation in federal court can be expensive, and penalties for violations can include paying back proceeds to the trademark holder and additional punitive fines. —Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 9 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French punitif, from Medieval Latin punitivus, from Latin punitus, past participle of punire

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing punitive

• punitive damages

Kids Definition

punitive

adjective

pu·​ni·​tive ˈpyü-nət-iv 

1

: of or relating to punishment or penalties

punitive law

2

: intended to inflict punishment

a punitive expedition against outlaws

punitively adverb

Legal Definition

punitive

adjective

pu·​ni·​tive ˈpyü-nə-tiv 

: inflicting, involving, or aiming at punishment

punitively adverb

punitiveness noun