penal
adjective /ˈpiːnl/
/ˈpiːnl/
[usually before noun]- connected with or used for punishment, especially by law
- penal reforms
- the penal system
- Criminals could at one time be sentenced to penal servitude (= prison with hard physical work).
- a penal colony (= a place where criminals were sent as a punishment in the past)
- that can be punished by law
- a penal offence
- very severe
- penal rates of interest
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French penal, from Latin poenalis, from poena ‘pain, penalty’.