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