punitive
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of punitive
1615–25; < Medieval Latin pūnītīvus of punishment, equivalent to Latin pūnīt ( us ) (past participle of pūnīre to punish ) + -īvus -ive
Explanation
Punitive describes inflicting a punishment. If someone takes punitive action against you, you'll probably whine and complain — you're in trouble and you're about to get punished. An easy way to remember the meaning of punitive is that it looks like the word punish — both come from the Latin root word punire, "to inflict a penalty on." Punitive doesn't always refer to a person-to-person punishment, like a mom disciplining a child. It can also describe the unpleasant result of an action on a large scale, like the punitive effect higher taxes will have on the middle class.
Vocabulary lists containing punitive
This Week in Words: September 15 - 21, 2018
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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.
The FAA said it is modernizing its approach to mental health, which critics have called outdated and punitive.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
"We need to see consistent law enforcement, and we need to see the threat of punitive measures by all industries, whether it's the water industry or oil refineries," Wallace said.
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026
Some people need a punitive outcome to a horrific event, no matter actual fault or responsibility.
From Slate ● Sep. 5, 2026
Said is seeking compensatory and punitive damages along with her attorneys’ fees.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
Remember, self-assessment is only for your benefit to develop and grow as a person, and is not punitive.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
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Get a wordDefinitions 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.
