retributivism

[ri-trib-yuh-tuh-viz-uh m]

noun

a policy or theory of criminal justice that advocates the punishment of criminals in retribution for the harm they have inflicted.

Origin of retributivism

First recorded in 1965–70; retributive + -ism

Related formsre·trib·u·tiv·ist, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018