punitive
[ pyoo-ni-tiv ]
/ ˈpyu nɪ tɪv /
adjective
serving for, concerned with, or inflicting punishment: punitive laws; punitive action.
Also
pu·ni·to·ry
[pyoo-ni-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] /ˈpyu nɪˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i/.
Origin of punitive
OTHER WORDS FROM punitive
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH punitive
penal penological punitiveWords nearby punitive
punish,
punishable,
punishing,
punishment,
punition,
punitive,
punitive damages,
punjab,
punjab states,
punjabi,
punji stake
Example sentences from the Web for punitive
British Dictionary definitions for punitive
punitive
less commonly punitory (ˈpjuːnɪtərɪ, -trɪ)
/ (ˈpjuːnɪtɪv) /
adjective
relating to, involving, or with the intention of inflicting punishment
a punitive expedition
Derived forms of punitive
punitively, adverb punitiveness, nounWord Origin for punitive
C17: from Medieval Latin
pūnītīvus concerning punishment, from Latin
pūnīre to punish