Punitive Meaning
/ˈpju.nɪ.tɪv/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjInflicting punishment; punishing.
Sentence Examples
Jail is a very harsh punitive measure.
We award punitive damages in the amount of two million dollars.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The new law includes ____ penalties for companies that repeatedly break safety rules.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The court awarded ____ damages to the plaintiff in addition to compensation for actual losses.
Word Origin & History
From Middle French punitif, from Medieval Latin pūnitīvus, from pūniō (“to punish”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"But Judge Alex W. Gabert, in a Rio Grande City courtroom, ordered the punitive damage reduced to conform to a 2003 Texas law that caps punitive damages at twice the amount of economic damages — lost pay — and up to $750,000 on top of noneconomic damages."
— 2006 December 22, “Judge Cuts Amount of Vioxx Award”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 12 Jul 2022, retrieved 07 Jun 2011:
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The new law includes ____ penalties for companies that repeatedly break safety rules.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The court awarded ____ damages to the plaintiff in addition to compensation for actual losses.