ENGLISH
REFERENCE

punished

v. · adj.
US //ˈpənɪʃt// UK //pˈʌnɪʃt// pun·ished
  1. 1 past action of penalising (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to have given someone a penalty or made them suffer because they broke a rule or law.

    the past tense of punish, indicating that a penalty was imposed for a transgression or crime.

    Example

    The teacher punished the students by making them stay after school.

    Example

    The court punished the corporation with a heavy fine after investigators discovered they had been dumping toxic waste into the local river.
  2. 2 having received a penalty (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    describing someone who has been given a penalty for doing something wrong.

    functioning as a participial adjective to describe a person or entity that has undergone a penalty or disciplinary action.

    Example

    The punished child sat quietly in the corner of the room.

    Example

    The punished athlete was forced to watch the championship from the sidelines, regretting the decision that led to his suspension.

Last updated June 19, 2026