punitivepu‧ni‧tive /ˈpjuːnətɪv/ ●○○ adjective [usually before noun] 
The agency sent a letter, but took no punitive action. The jury awarded punitive damages (=money paid to someone who is the victim of a crime). The government is expected to take punitive steps against offenders.2punitive taxes/price increases etc taxes etc that are so high that it is difficult for people to pay them: The US could impose punitive tariffs on exports.
WORD ORIGINpunitive
Origin:
1600-1700 French punitif, from Medieval Latin punitivus, from Latin punire; ➔ PUNISHEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- punitive taxes
- Government forces immediately took punitive action against the rebels.
- The company was ordered to pay punitive damages in a sex discrimination case.
- The sanctions were a punitive measure used to try to force South Africa to reject apartheid.
- As Baker repeatedly told jurors, the intent of punitive damages is to punish, not destroy.
- But far too many listen only rarely to their children and have little to say to them that is not punitive.
- He was awarded $ 335, 000 in compensatory damages and $ 300, 617 in punitive damages.
- His kiss was an assault, punitive, compelling her lips to part, robbing her of breath.
- However, he said that the punitive award to the estate of Nicole Brown Simpson might be more vulnerable.
- New students were aware of 1987's punitive assignments.
- Such punitive gestures fulfilled the important function of maintaining mechanical solidarity at the requisite pitch.
- The president, however, can issue waivers to prevent punitive actions.
Longman Language Activatorto punish someone
to do something unpleasant to someone because they have done something wrong, for example by putting them in prison, or making them do something that they do not want to do: · She was suspended while the school decided how to punish her.punish somebody for (doing) something: · His parents punished him for disobedience.· The U.S. threatened to take away trading privileges as a way to punish the country for human rights violations.· Two instructors were punished for harassing female students.
to make someone pay money as a punishment: · Inspectors have the power to fine any passenger travelling without a ticket.be fined £10/$100 etc: · She was fined $300 for reckless driving.fine somebody for (doing) something: · One player was fined for fighting during the game.· The state fined the company for safety violations.
to send someone to prison for a particular period of time: · Because of the serious nature of the crime, the judge gave him 20 years.give sb 6 years/10 months etc for: · After a long trial she was given a life sentence for the bombings.
if a judge sentences a criminal, he or she gives them an official punishment, usually sending them to prison for a period of time: sentence somebody for something: · Brown will be sentenced for a series of sexual assaults.sentence somebody to 20 years/life imprisonment etc: · The judge sentenced Margolis to a year in prison.sentence somebody to 20 years/life imprisonment etc for something: · Some countries will sentence you to seven or more years in prison for drug offences.sentence somebody to death: · 60 prisoners have been sentenced to death in political trials.
to punish someone because you want to make sure that they will not behave badly again: · I hope a night in the cells has taught you a lesson.· He was treating me badly, so I left - I just wanted to teach him a lesson.
informal to do something unpleasant to someone as a way of punishing them for something bad they have done to you or someone you know: · If I ever find out who did this, I'll make them pay!make sb pay for: · I wanted to make my father pay for his betrayal.· The prosecution asked jurors to make Mr. Sanderson pay for what he did.
also penalise British to officially punish someone, especially by taking away their right to do something or by limiting their freedom in some way: · New laws will penalize firms that continue to pollute the environment.· It is unfair that the whole class should be penalized because of the bad behaviour of a few students.penalize somebody for (doing) something: · A referee may penalise players for wasting time.· The House of Representatives voted to penalize him for ethics violations.
to punish someone who has broken the rules of an organization that they belong to or work for: · Officers are expected to discipline soldiers who do not keep their uniforms in good condition.be disciplined: · Anyone who is regularly late for work is likely to be disciplined or dismissed.· Even when Morton and Collins started fighting on the field, neither player was disciplined.
intended as a punishment: punitive action/measure/sanctions etc: · Government forces immediately took punitive action against the rebels.· The sanctions were a punitive measure used to try to force South Africa to reject apartheid.punitive damages (=money that a person or company has to pay to someone they have harmed - used in legal contexts): · The company was ordered to pay punitive damages in a sex discrimination case.
: disciplinary action/measures/charges etc actions etc that are intended to punish someone for breaking a rule or law or to force them to obey rules: · The committee members promised that appropriate disciplinary measures would be taken against the offenders.· So far, not a single person has faced prosecution or disciplinary action over the case.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The agency sent a letter, but took no punitive action. The jury awarded punitive damages (=money paid to someone who is the victim of a crime). The government is expected to take punitive steps against offenders. The US could impose punitive tariffs on exports.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
The agency sent a letter, but took no punitive action. The jury awarded punitive damages (=money paid to someone who is the victim of a crime). The government is expected to take punitive steps against offenders. The US could impose punitive tariffs on exports. (=one an army undertakes to punish someone)· The Afghan army mounted a punitive expedition against the local militia groups.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Many have been psychologically damaged, like Yasmin, whose continuous self-injury meant that she was moved into a more punitive environment.
NOUN· The president, however, can issue waivers to prevent punitive actions.· Once again, the agency sent a strongly worded warning letter, but took no punitive action.
· However, he said that the punitive award to the estate of Nicole Brown Simpson might be more vulnerable.· Some Wall Street firms have expressed outrage at punitive awards, and many investors have complained of brokers' stalling tactics.
· The judgment reflected a refusal by the court to limit punitive damage awards.· In exchange, the companies would be protected from punitive damage awards on past misconduct but not future misconduct.
· Business groups had repeatedly pressed for punitive damages to be limited, complaining of the increasing size and frequency of such awards.· Some of the negotiators, however, said the stalemate over the issue of punitive damages seemed especially intractable.· The jury awarded punitive damages of £40,000 against Irving, and a further £40,000 against Cassell.· The jury did not find that Saab acted maliciously or with oppression, however, and refused to award punitive damages.· Insurance companies pay most punitive damages because they themselves are the defendants that juries are most likely to punish substantially.· Deliberation on punitive damages begins today in 20 blast victims' lawsuit against Seminole Pipeline Co.· He is asking for punitive damages of $ 6.9m.· He was awarded $ 335, 000 in compensatory damages and $ 300, 617 in punitive damages.
· Maybe he would even mount a punitive expedition tonight, striking while the iron was hot, and all that.· No mention was ever made of the 270 deaths at the Apalachicola fort or the punitive expedition against the settlement at Fowlton.· First Hutus massacred Tutsis, then Tutsi soldiers went on punitive expeditions against the Hutus.· The punitive expedition of a Merovingian monarch was not quickly forgotten.
· Its proposed abolition and replacement with more punitive measures would further criminalise travellers for their way of life.· As a punitive measure, the mayor closed black lodging houses and hotels at public insistence.· His renunciation also rested upon a dubious legal sentence of 1202, a punitive measure against King John by Philip Augustus.· The bulldozing was a punitive measure.· The government, however, had only just begun their punitive measures against excessive liberalism.
· It represents a number of auxiliary practices which make punitive sanctions more effective.
· He described the prospect of punitive tariffs as sad.
· People considering retiring early would be caught by that punitive tax.
WORD FAMILYadjectivepunishablepunishingunpunishedpunitivenounpunishmentverbpunish
1intended to punish someonepunitive action/measures etc The agency sent a letter, but took no punitive action. The jury awarded punitive damages (=money paid to someone who is the victim of a crime). The government is expected to take punitive steps against offenders.2punitive taxes/price increases etc taxes etc that are so high that it is difficult for people to pay them: The US could impose punitive tariffs on exports.