Meaning & use
penal
Last updated
Relating to punishment, especially punishment imposed by law.
See it in a sentence
The country reformed its penal system to reduce overcrowding in prisons.
Stealing from the company carries penal consequences under the new policy.
A note on using this word
Mostly used in formal or legal contexts, as in 'penal code' or 'penal colony.'
Words with a similar meaning
punitivedisciplinary
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