Synonyms

punitive damages

American

plural noun

Law.

damages awarded to a plaintiff in excess of compensatory damages in order to punish the defendant for a reckless or willful act.

Etymology

Origin of punitive damages

First recorded in 1970–75

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 jury also asked whether it was charged to determine the amount of punitive damages, adding to speculation that it might hand the Skaggs family an award beyond economic and emotional distress damage.

From Los Angeles Times

His parents have now launched legal action against Meta in a US court seeking punitive damages claiming that Instagram was not safe.

From BBC

The Skaggs family is seeking not only lost earnings and emotional distress damages but also punitive damages.

From Los Angeles Times

On Tuesday, Lee ordered the government to "strengthen fines and make punitive damages a reality", calling for "substantive and effective countermeasures".

From Barron's

The plaintiffs are asking for about $120 million in future earnings as well as additional millions for pain and suffering and punitive damages.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023