punitive

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈpjuːnɪtɪv/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈpjunɪtɪv/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(pyo̅o̅′ni tiv)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
pu•ni•tive /ˈpyunɪtɪv/USA pronunciation   adj. 
  1. serving as, concerned with, or giving punishment.
  2. harsh and severe:a punitive tax.
pu•ni•tive•ly, adv. See -pen-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
pu•ni•tive  (pyo̅o̅′ni tiv),USA pronunciation adj. 
  1. serving for, concerned with, or inflicting punishment:punitive laws; punitive action.
Also, pu•ni•to•ry  (pyo̅o̅′ni tôr′ē, -tōr′ē).USA pronunciation 
  • Medieval Latin pūnītīvus of punishment, equivalent. to Latin pūnīt(us) (past participle of pūnīre to punish) + -īvus -ive
  • 1615–25
pu′ni•tive•ly, adv. 
pu′ni•tive•ness, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
punitive /ˈpjuːnɪtɪv/, (less commonly) punitory /ˈpjuːnɪtərɪ; -trɪ/ adj
  1. relating to, involving, or with the intention of inflicting punishment: a punitive expedition
Etymology: 17th Century: from Medieval Latin pūnītīvus concerning punishment, from Latin pūnīre to punishˈpunitively adv
'punitive' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
boom - community service - compensatory damages - diktat - exemplary damages - impunity - punitive damages - Red River War - RICO - vindicatory - self-punitive - smart money - sword
In Lists: Ana C, more...

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