# punishment

/ˈpənɪʃmənt/ (US) · /pˈʌnɪʃmənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/punishment
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. penalty for wrongdoing

noun · CEFR B1

a penalty you receive for breaking a rule or doing something bad.

For teachers: a penalty or sanction imposed by an authority for a transgression, crime, or breach of rules.

- His punishment for arriving late to class was staying behind to clean the boards.
- The judge determined that the appropriate punishment for the offence would be community service rather than a custodial sentence.

### 2. harsh treatment

noun · CEFR B2

very rough or hard treatment that causes damage or pain.

For teachers: severe or rough treatment, often used figuratively to describe physical wear or damage to an object.

- These hiking boots are designed to take a lot of punishment on rocky trails.
- The small coastal town took a heavy punishment from the storm, with several buildings suffering significant structural damage.

## Examples

- 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 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.