punitive

[ pyoo-ni-tiv ]

adjective

1. serving for, concerned with, or inflicting punishment:

   punitive laws; punitive action.

punitive

/ ˈpjuːnɪtərɪ; -trɪ; ˈpjuːnɪtɪv /

adjective

1. relating to, involving, or with the intention of inflicting punishment

   a punitive expedition

Derived Forms

• ˈpunitively, adverb
• ˈpunitiveness, noun

Other Words From

• puni·tive·ly adverb
• puni·tive·ness noun
• non·puni·tive adjective
• non·puni·tory adjective
• self-puni·tive adjective
• semi·puni·tive adjective
• semi·puni·tory adjective
• un·puni·tive adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of punitive¹

1615–25; < Medieval Latin pūnītīvus of punishment, equivalent to Latin pūnīt ( us ) (past participle of pūnīre to punish ) + -īvus -ive

Word History and Origins

Origin of punitive¹

C17: from Medieval Latin pūnītīvus concerning punishment, from Latin pūnīre to punish

Example Sentences

While it’s probable that fines and other punitive measures are in store for some or all of these companies, it’s much less likely that any of them will be carved up.

From Search Engine Land

They’ve called for a less punitive approach and in June approved a pilot program so that people accused of evading fares had the option to pay a lesser fine or complete community service.

From Voice of San Diego

New board leaders including Chairman Nathan Fletcher and City Councilwoman Monica Montgomery, who chairs the agency’s public security committee, have called for the agency to consider a less punitive approach.

From Voice of San Diego

That punitive style of policing is what’s under scrutiny now, as the agency makes changes internally and a new group of leaders take the wheel.

From Voice of San Diego

The agency’s punitive approach to fare evasion is now under scrutiny, as it undergoes a complete rethink of how its quasi-public security team operates.

From Voice of San Diego

This concern ceased after the Spanish warned of severe punitive measures on the family members of suicides.

From The Daily Beast

Punitive measures could also be brought by the Security Council, but only with the backing of Russia and China.

From The Daily Beast

What we are saying to councils, who have powers to impose punitive council taxes on such people, is do so.

From The Daily Beast

Even normally eager-to-talk sources have gone to ground, unsure how punitive the military might be in its actions against critics.

From The Daily Beast

Even if they succeed, families can win only actual and not punitive damages from the federal government.

From The Daily Beast

Punitive expeditions are not organised in the event of slight fevers or even serious illness—only when the patient dies.

From Project Gutenberg

"It's the perfect punitive world," Uncle Ingemar said proudly.

From Project Gutenberg

Almost p 285every month there are punitive raids made from the towns, and brigands are captured and put to death.

From Project Gutenberg

A punitive expedition, led by the same officer, afterward met with some success, but American popularity suffered in consequence.

From Project Gutenberg

Suffering is not always punitive; it is sometimes disciplinary, designed to wean the good man from his sin.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• disciplinary
• penal
• punishing
• retaliatory
• vindictive