punitive
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
- nonpunitive adjective
- nonpunitory adjective
- punitively adverb
- punitiveness noun
- self-punitive adjective
- semipunitive adjective
- semipunitory adjective
- unpunitive adjective
Etymology
Origin of punitive
1615–25; < Medieval Latin pūnītīvus of punishment, equivalent to Latin pūnīt ( us ) (past participle of pūnīre to punish ) + -īvus -ive
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.
The family members are seeking punitive damages, the amount of which would be determined at trial.
From Barron's
Teen plaintiffs are asking for compensation for pain and suffering as well as punitive damages.
Announcing the agreement framework on social media Wednesday, he said he would pause punitive tariffs planned against longstanding European allies that had refused to support his demands.
From Los Angeles Times
Even with an increase in the value of the property, these repayments are punitive.
From MarketWatch
He defines “concentrationary” to include all circumstances in which there’s a punitive concentration of people, including in ghettoes.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
