punishment
n. C / Un. a penalty or something unpleasant that happens to you because you did something wrong. It is often used by parents, teachers, or the law to teach a lesson.
n. the imposition of a penalty or an unpleasant experience as a retribution for an offence or a violation of rules.
The teacher gave the student a punishment for being late.
The judge decided that community service was a fair punishment for the minor crime committed by the teenager.
Legal scholars often debate whether the primary goal of punishment should be to reform the individual or to serve as a deterrent for the rest of society.
From Middle English punishement, from Old French punissement, from punir (“to punish”). Equivalent to punish + -ment. Displaced native Old English wīte.
Uncountable when referring to the general concept of penalisation; countable when referring to a specific instance or penalty.
The police gave him a punishmentThe police punished himLearners often use 'give a punishment' for formal legal actions where the verb 'punish' or the noun 'penalty' is more natural.