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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
To collect punitive damages in the case, Young must show that the network acted with actual malice.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2025
Heard was also awarded $2 million in compensatory damages in her counterclaim but nothing in punitive damages.
—Doha Madani, NBC News, 27 Dec. 2024
Therefore, Pratt ruled that the plaintiffs could get only compensatory damages, and not punitive damages.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 6 Dec. 2024
The jury awarded her a total of $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages.
—Russell Lewis, NPR, 30 Dec. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1858, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Punitive damages.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punitive%20damages. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
Legal Definition
punitive damages
see damage sense 2
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