punitive damages
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.
Also called
exemplary damages.
Compare
compensatory damages.
Origin of punitive damages
First recorded in 1970–75
Words nearby punitive damages
punishable,
punishing,
punishment,
punition,
punitive,
punitive damages,
punjab,
punjab states,
punjabi,
punji stake,
punk
British Dictionary definitions for exemplary damages
exemplary damages
pl n
law
damages awarded to a plaintiff above the value of actual loss sustained so that they serve also as a punishment to the defendant and a deterrent to others