penal

[ peen-l ]
/ ˈpin l /

adjective

of, relating to, or involving punishment, as for crimes or offenses.
prescribing punishment: penal laws.
constituting punishment: He survived the years of penal hardship.
used as a place of confinement and punishment: a penal colony.
subject to or incurring punishment: a penal offense.
payable or forfeitable as a penalty: a penal sum.

Origin of penal

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin poenālis, equivalent to poen(a) penalty (< Greek poinḗ fine) + -ālis -al1

OTHER WORDS FROM penal

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH penal

penal penological punitive penal penile

Words nearby penal

pen pal, pen pusher, pen-, pen-based, pen., penal, penal code, penal servitude, penalize, penalty, penalty area

British Dictionary definitions for non-penal

penal
/ (ˈpiːnəl) /

adjective

of, relating to, constituting, or prescribing punishment
payable as a penalty a penal sum
used or designated as a place of punishment a penal institution

Derived forms of penal

penally, adverb

Word Origin for penal

C15: from Late Latin poenālis concerning punishment, from poena penalty