penal

[peen-l]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or involving punishment, as for crimes or offenses.

2. prescribing punishment.

   penal laws.

3. constituting punishment.

   He survived the years of penal hardship.

4. used as a place of confinement and punishment.

   a penal colony.

5. subject to or incurring punishment.

   a penal offense.

6. payable or forfeitable as a penalty.

   a penal sum.

penal

/ ˈpiːnəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, constituting, or prescribing punishment

2. payable as a penalty

   a penal sum

3. used or designated as a place of punishment

   a penal institution

Other Word Forms

• penality noun
• penally adverb
• nonpenal adjective
• unpenal adjective
• unpenally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of penal¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin poenālis, equivalent to poen ( a ) penalty (< Greek poinḗ fine) + -ālis -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of penal¹

C15: from Late Latin poenālis concerning punishment, from poena penalty

Example Sentences

Schmidt and the company are accused of violating the California Comprehensive Computer Data Access and Fraud Act, and a section of the state penal code that prohibits wiretapping.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Despite a lack of evidence, Dreyfus was convicted of treason, sentenced to life imprisonment in the infamous Devil's Island penal colony in French Guiana and publicly stripped of his rank.

Read more on Barron's

The amendment to the penal code, demanded by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and approved by the National Security Committee, was approved by 39 votes to 16.

Read more on Barron's

Earlier this year, Kurashov told the BBC he had joined the Storm V assault unit in exchange for early release from a remote penal colony in Russia where he was serving a sentence for theft.

Read more on BBC

Mexico's 32 states and Mexico City, which is a federal entity, all have their own penal codes.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• punitive