punitive damages

American  

plural noun

Law.

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

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Etymology

Origin of punitive damages

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

punitive damages

Financial firms are seeking to curb punitive damages and route complex cases to other arbitration forums, which would require SEC approval.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

Panish on Tuesday had asked for $20 million from Grossman and $1 million from Erickson in punitive damages.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026

Panish told jurors in Van Nuys that they needed to award punitive damages not only to punish Grossman and Erickson but also to send a message about their conduct.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 2026

The complaint seeks a permanent injunction, an award no less than for $15 million for actual damages and punitive damages.

From Barron's ● May 11, 2026

There shall be no annexations, no contributions, no punitive damages.

From England, Canada and the Great War by Desjardins, Louis-Georges