retributivism

[ ri-trib-yuh-tuh-viz-uhm ]

/ rɪˈtrɪb yə təˌvɪz əm /

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noun

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

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Origin of retributivism

First recorded in 1965–70; retributive + -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM retributivism

re·trib·u·tiv·ist, adjective