Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web

punitive

 - 3 dictionary results

pu⋅ni⋅tive

[pyoo-ni-tiv]
–adjective
serving for, concerned with, or inflicting punishment: punitive laws; punitive action.
Also, pu⋅ni⋅to⋅ry [pyoo-ni-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] .


Origin:
1615–25; < ML pūnītīvus of punishment, equiv. to L pūnīt(us) (ptp. of pūnīre to punish ) + -īvus -ive


pu⋅ni⋅tive⋅ly, adverb
pu⋅ni⋅tive⋅ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To punitive
pu·ni·tive   (pyōō'nĭ-tĭv)   
adj.  Inflicting or aiming to inflict punishment; punishing.

[Medieval Latin pūnītīvus, from Latin poenīre, pūnīre, to punish; see punish.]
pu'ni·tive·ly adv., pu'ni·tive·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: pu·ni·tive
Pronunciation: 'pyü-n&-tiv
Function: adjective
: inflicting, involving, or aiming at punishment —pu·ni·tive·ly adverbpu·ni·tive·ness noun
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see punitive on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: