First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
penal
adjective pe·nal \ˈpē-nəl\
: relating to or used for punishment
: very severe
Full Definition of PENAL
1
: of, relating to, or involving punishment, penalties, or punitive institutions
2
: liable to punishment <a penal offense>
3
: used as a place of confinement and punishment <a penal colony>
— pe·nal·ly \-nəl-ē\ adverb
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Origin of PENAL
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin poenalis, from poena punishment — more at pain
Related to PENAL
- Synonyms
- castigating, chastening, chastising, correcting, correctional, corrective, disciplinary, disciplining, punitive, penalizing
- Antonyms
- nonpunitive
Other Legal Terms
PENAL Defined for Kids
penal
adjective pe·nal \ˈpē-nəl\
Definition of PENAL for Kids
: relating to or used for punishment
Word Root of PENAL
The Latin word poena, meaning “punishment,” gives us the root pen or pun. Words from the Latin poena have something to do with punishments. A penalty is a punishment for doing something wrong. Anything penal, such as a group of laws, explains punishments for specific crimes. Punish and punishment also come from poena.
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