penal

American  

[peen-l] / ˈpin 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.

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penal British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of penal

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

Example Sentences

The government says it will focus on tax, labor and penal code reforms in the coming extraordinary session of Congress.

From The Wall Street Journal

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.

From 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.

From 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.

From BBC

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

From Barron's

Related Words

• punitive