punishment

noun

PUN-ish-muhnt/ˈpʌnɪʃmənt/

Pluralpunishments (some meanings)

4 meanings of punishment

1
noununcountable
The act or process of imposing a sanction on someone, typically by an authority such as a parent or teacher, in response to bad behavior.
The school's approach to punishment focuses on correction rather than blame.
Many parents struggle to decide what form of punishment fits a child's misbehavior.
Similardiscipline, correction, chastisement
Oppositereward
2
nouncountable or uncountable
A penalty imposed in response to wrongdoing, especially the sanction set for a crime.
The court decided that community service was a fitting punishment for the offense.
Reformers argued that the punishment did not match the seriousness of the crime.
Similarpenalty, sentence, sanction
Oppositereward
3
noununcountable
The pain or loss inflicted on someone as retribution for what they have done.
The exile was meant as punishment, a lifelong loss for his betrayal.
Ancient codes prescribed punishment in measure with the suffering a wrongdoer caused.
Similarretribution, penalty
Oppositereward
4
nounfigurativelyuncountable
Harsh treatment or rough handling that a person, object, or surface is subjected to.
The team's defense absorbed punishment for the entire second half.
Hiking boots like these are built to withstand serious punishment on rough trails.
Similarabuse, battering, beating, pounding

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of punishment apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Middle English punishement, from Old French punissement, from punir ("to punish"); equivalent to punish + -ment. It displaced the native Old English word wīte.