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.

"Punitive damages punish a defendant who has acted maliciously & discourage others from doing the same. A jury could award Carroll damages in an amount that exceeds what she got in the first case."

From Salon • May 23, 2023

Punitive damages are meant to punish a person for their conduct.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 6, 2022

Punitive damages are meant to sting, Tobias said, so juries tend to award sums proportionate to the defendant’s finances despite many states contradictorily having caps on such awards.

From Washington Post • Aug. 5, 2022

Punitive damages are intended to punish a defendant for their negligent actions, deterring them from committing the same violation again.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2022

"Punitive damages, the dismemberment of empires, the establishment of selfish and exclusive economic leagues, we deem inexpedient."

From Woodrow Wilson and the World War A Chronicle of Our Own Times. by Seymour, Charles

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