penal
adj.adj. relating to the legal punishment of people who break the law. It describes things like prisons or the rules used to punish criminals.
adj. relating to, used for, or prescribing the punishment of offenders under a legal system. Often describes institutions, codes, or systems of justice.
The country is planning to reform its penal system.
The government introduced a new penal code to ensure that punishments for financial crimes were more consistent.
Legal scholars argue that the primary goal of any penal institution should be the successful rehabilitation of inmates rather than purely punitive measures that may increase recidivism.
From Old French peinal, from Medieval Latin penalis, from Latin poenalis, from poena (“punishment”), from Ancient Greek ποινή (poinḗ, “punishment”), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷoynéh₂.
Typically used attributively before nouns like 'system', 'code', 'colony', or 'institution'.
the penal of the crimethe penalty for the crimeLearners often confuse the adjective 'penal' with the noun 'penalty'.