punishment

noun

PUN-ish-muhnt/ˈpʌnɪʃmənt/

Pluralpunishments (some meanings)

4 meanings of punishment

1
noununcountable
The act of making someone face an unpleasant result for behaving badly, usually by a parent or teacher.
Like getting a yellow card in a game when you break the rules.
The teacher used extra homework as punishment for the noisy class.
His parents believe punishment should always be fair and calm.
Similardiscipline, correction, chastisement
Oppositereward
2
nouncountable or uncountable
A penalty given to someone for doing something wrong, especially a crime.
Like losing your turn in a game because you broke a rule.
The punishment for stealing was two weeks of cleaning the yard.
Some people thought the punishment was far too harsh for him.
Similarpenalty, sentence, sanction
Oppositereward
3
noununcountable
Pain or loss made to happen to someone to pay them back for what they did.
Like having to give back something you took, so you feel the loss yourself.
He saw years in prison as fair punishment for the harm he caused.
Losing their trust felt like punishment enough.
Similarretribution, penalty
Oppositereward
4
nounfigurativelyuncountable
Very rough or hard treatment that something or someone has to put up with.
Like a toy that gets dropped and thrown until it starts to break.
These old boots have taken a lot of punishment over the years.
The little car took real punishment on the rocky road.
Similarabuse, battering, beating, pounding

Practice

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Origin

From Old French punissement, from punir meaning "to punish." It came into English through Middle English.