Added 9 October 2026
penal
/ˈpiːnəl/ adjective
Latin root: penalis Wiktionary
adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about penal at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
-
Of or relating to punishment.
penal reform
-
Serving as or designed to impose punishment.
penal servitude
-
(of an act or offense) subject to punishment by law.
a penal offense
Origin
From Old French peinal, from Medieval Latin penalis, from Latin poenalis, from poena (“punishment”), from Ancient Greek ποινή (poinḗ, “punishment”), from Proto-Indo-European *kʷoynéh₂.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)