Punitive
Pronunciation: /ˈpjuːnətɪv/
Punitive (adj)
- Intended to punish someone for doing wrong, often by giving a penalty or strict treatment.
- Very severe in response to wrongdoing, focusing on making the punishment feel strong.
- Used to describe a system or policy where the main goal is to impose penalties rather than help change behaviour.
Punitive (adjective)
Examples
- The judge issued a punitive sentence to punish the offender.
- The company created a punitive policy to punish repeated mistakes.