punishable

American

[puhn-i-shuh-buhl] / ˈpʌn ɪ ʃə bəl /

adjective

liable to or deserving punishment.

punishable British

/ ˈpʌnɪʃəbəl /

adjective

liable to be punished or deserving of punishment

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

nonpunishable adjective
punishability noun
repunishable adjective
unpunishable adjective

Etymology

Origin of punishable

1375–1425; late Middle English. See punish, -able

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.

Failure to do this is classed as an "illegal practice", which can be punishable by a fine of up to £5,000.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

Tastelessness is not punishable by law, and neither is adapting a beloved novel however a filmmaker sees fit.

From Salon • Feb. 23, 2026

Sherman Act of 1890 made it illegal for competing companies to engage in horizontal price fixing, potentially punishable by prison time.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 20, 2026

And the crime of kissing is punishable by death, raising the stakes as a young sales assistant bonds with a regular customer.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 9, 2026

Shackleton was the Master, and technically they were now on shore; disobedience to the commands of the Master was legally punishable.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong

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