# punisher

/ˈpənɪʃɝ/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/punisher
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

a person or thing that causes pain or trouble to someone who has done something wrong. It is often used in psychology to describe a negative result that stops a behavior.

For teachers: a person or thing that inflicts pain, loss, or discomfort as a consequence of an action. In behavioral psychology, it refers to a stimulus that decreases the likelihood of a specific behavior through negative reinforcement.

## Examples

- The loud noise acts as a punisher for the child.
- In the classroom, the teacher uses a time-out as a punisher for students who interrupt the lesson.
- The study suggests that the effectiveness of a punisher depends on its immediacy and the perceived connection between the action and the consequence.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.