corporal punishment
Americannoun
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Law. physical punishment, as flogging, inflicted on the body of one convicted of a crime: formerly included the death penalty, sentencing to a term of years, etc.
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physical punishment, as spanking, inflicted on a child by an adult in authority.
noun
Etymology
Origin of corporal punishment
First recorded in 1575–85
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But, he adds, there is a "spectrum" of schools, with some incorporating psychotherapy for students and training for parents, or disciplining staff who carry out corporal punishment.
From BBC • Dec. 11, 2025
Those who came before us also absorbed things in school no one’s pining to bring back, like corporal punishment or Manifest Destiny.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 11, 2024
The departure of qualified teachers including women, regressive curriculum changes and the increase in corporal punishment have led to greater fear of going to school and falling attendance.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 5, 2023
Only three states fully ban corporal punishment at both public and private schools; 25 make it illegal in public schools, but allow private school teachers to use physical force as punishment for students.
From Slate • Sep. 12, 2023
Regardless, it fell out that Katherine and I were saved the corporal punishment and instead assigned house duty for two weeks.
From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
