penology

or poe·nol·o·gy

[ pee-nol-uh-jee ]

noun

1. the study of the punishment of crime, in both its deterrent and its reformatory aspects.
2. the study of the management of prisons.

penology

/ piːˈnɒlədʒɪ; ˌpiːnəˈlɒdʒɪkəl /

noun

1. the branch of the social sciences concerned with the punishment of crime
2. the science of prison management

Derived Forms

• peˈnologist, noun
• penological, adjective
• ˌpenoˈlogically, adverb

Other Words From

• pe·no·log·i·cal [peen-l-, oj, -i-k, uh, l], adjective
• pe·nolo·gist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of penology¹

1830–40; peno- (combining form representing Greek poinḗ penalty) + -logy

Word History and Origins

Origin of penology¹

C19: from Greek poinē punishment

Example Sentences

There are experts who write on penology, and I read them as well.

From The Daily Beast

This message from my pen is not a work on criminology or penology.

From Project Gutenberg

Incipient criminals usually started their infamous careers that way; you could read that in any book on penology.

From Project Gutenberg

The science of the phenomena of crime is called criminology, that of punishment is named penology.

From Project Gutenberg

The new penology covers the investigation and study of every circumstance surrounding the criminal as such.

From Project Gutenberg

As has been stated in a previous chapter, the new penology repudiates all such systems.

From Project Gutenberg