punishment

What it means

1. countableuncountableThe act (action) or process of punishing, imposing and/or applying a sanction, typically by an authority or a person in authority (for example: a parent or teacher), especially when disappointed or dissatisfied with the behavior or actions of a child, student, or someone else being looked after.

   The naughty children were given a punishment by their teachers.

   Synonyms: castigation, discipline, punition

2. countableuncountableA penalty to punish wrongdoing, especially for crime.

   a light punishment

   2 more examples

   a harsh punishment

   But officials here maintain that their methods do make a difference, and they follow it up with post-release programs. The aim of Bastoy is not to punish or seek revenge, Nilsen said. The only punishment is to take away the prisoner’s right to be a free member of society.

   2012 May 24, John D. Sutter, “Welcome to the world’s nicest prison”, in CNN

   Synonyms: sanction, censure, correction, discipline, penalty, punition, sanction, sentence · Antonyms: reward, acknowledgment, guerdon, meed, payback, recompense, reguerdon, remuneration

3. countableuncountableA suffering by pain or loss imposed as retribution.

In a sentence

The naughty children were given a punishment by their teachers.

Where it comes from

1. Old Frenchpunissement
2. Middle Englishpunishement
3. Englishpunishment

From Middle English punishement, from Old French punissement, from punir (“to punish”). Equivalent to punish + -ment. Displaced native Old English wīte.