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.

He has demanded both compensatory damages to redress his own harms as well as punitive damages “to deter future unconstitutional conduct.”

From Slate • Apr. 15, 2026

The lawsuit also seeks $7 million in punitive damages.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

The jury also said the companies should pay another $3 million in punitive damages.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

The jury in the Santa Monica case could award even more in punitive damages that they have yet to determine.

From BBC • Mar. 23, 2026

Normally, punitive damages are awarded only when the conduct in question is malicious, unusually reckless, or otherwise reprehensible.

From What Works: Schools Without Drugs by Education, United States Department of

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