corporal punishment

Học thuật
Thân thiện
Definition
  1. Noun:
    • The infliction of physical pain or injury as a penalty for an offense or to enforce discipline: "Corporal punishment" refers to the deliberate application of physical force with the intention of causing a degree of pain or discomfort to correct or punish behavior. It is often distinguished from psychological or financial penalties.
Examples of Usage
  • Noun:
    • The school banned all forms of corporal punishment, such as caning.
    • Many countries have outlawed corporal punishment for crimes, considering it cruel and unusual.
    • Debates continue about whether mild corporal punishment is an effective form of child discipline.
Advanced Usage
  • "to administer corporal punishment": to formally carry out or apply physical punishment.
    • The principal had the authority to administer corporal punishment for serious infractions.
  • "to be subject to corporal punishment": to be liable to receive physical punishment.
    • Soldiers in that era were frequently subject to corporal punishment for disobedience.
Variants and Related Words
  • Corporal (adj): relating to the body. This is the root adjective from which the phrase derives.
    • He suffered both corporal and emotional harm.
  • Punishment (n): the act of punishing; the penalty inflicted.
    • The punishment must fit the crime.
Synonyms
  • Physical punishment: A direct synonym emphasizing the bodily nature of the penalty.
  • Chastisement: Often implies physical punishment for the purpose of correction, though it can be non-physical.
  • Beatings / Floggings / Caning: These are specific, severe types of corporal punishment.
Related Phrases
  • Capital punishment: Punishment by death, distinguished from corporal punishment which is non-lethal.
    • The legal system moved from corporal to capital punishment for the most severe crimes.
  • Cruel and unusual punishment: A legal phrase often used to argue against the acceptability of certain corporal punishments.
    • The court ruled that the method constituted cruel and unusual punishment.
Idioms
  • "Spare the rod and spoil the child": A proverb (often cited in debates) suggesting that a failure to use physical punishment (the rod) will result in a poorly disciplined child. This idiom is directly associated with the concept of corporal punishment.
    • He believed in the old saying, "spare the rod and spoil the child," and used corporal punishment frequently.
Noun
  1. the infliction of physical injury on someone convicted of committing a crime