Added 9 October 2026
punishment
/ˈpʌnɪʃmənt/ noun
In Latin: supplicium, poena Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about punishment at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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The 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.
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A penalty to punish wrongdoing, especially for crime.
a light punishment
- A suffering by pain or loss imposed as retribution.
Origin
From Middle English punishement, from Old French punissement, from punir (“to punish”). Equivalent to punish + -ment. Displaced native Old English wīte.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)