Dictionary
punishment
noun pun·ish·ment \ˈpə-nish-mənt\
: the act of punishing someone or a way of punishing someone
: the state of being punished
: rough physical treatment
Full Definition of PUNISHMENT
1
: the act of punishing
2
a : suffering, pain, or loss that serves as retribution b : a penalty inflicted on an offender through judicial procedure
3
: severe, rough, or disastrous treatment
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First Known Use of PUNISHMENT
15th century
Related to PUNISHMENT
- Synonyms
- castigation, chastisement, comeuppance, correction, desert(s), discipline, nemesis, penalty, wrath
PUNISHMENT Defined for Kids
punishment
noun pun·ish·ment \ˈpə-nish-mənt\
Definition of PUNISHMENT for Kids
1
: the act of making a wrongdoer suffer : the state of being made to suffer for wrongdoing
2
: the penalty for a wrong or crime
Word Root of PUNISHMENT
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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