punitive
[ pyoo-ni-tiv ]
adjective
serving for, concerned with, or inflicting punishment: punitive laws; punitive action.
Origin of punitive
1- Also pu·ni·to·ry [pyoo-ni-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee]. /ˈpyu nɪˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/.
Other words from punitive
- pu·ni·tive·ly, adverb
- pu·ni·tive·ness, noun
- non·pu·ni·tive, adjective
- non·pu·ni·to·ry, adjective
- self-pu·ni·tive, adjective
- sem·i·pu·ni·tive, adjective
- sem·i·pu·ni·to·ry, adjective
- un·pu·ni·tive, adjective
Words that may be confused with punitive
- penal, penological, punitive
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for punitive
punitive
less commonly punitory (ˈpjuːnɪtərɪ, -trɪ)
/ (ˈpjuːnɪtɪv) /
adjective
relating to, involving, or with the intention of inflicting punishment: a punitive expedition
Origin of punitive
1C17: from Medieval Latin pūnītīvus concerning punishment, from Latin pūnīre to punish
Derived forms of punitive
- punitively, adverb
- punitiveness, noun
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
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