Definition

Noun: A systematic collection of statutes and laws that define criminal offenses and specify the corresponding punishments or penalties. It is the primary body of criminal law for a jurisdiction.

Usage

The term "penal code" is used to refer to the official, codified set of criminal laws for a state, country, or other legal territory. It is a formal, legal term.

Examples

• The state legislature amended the penal code to increase the penalty for cyber fraud.
• Lawyers must be thoroughly familiar with the penal code to defend their clients effectively.
• The new article in the penal code specifically addresses data privacy violations.

Advanced Usage

• "Under the penal code": A phrase used to state that a specific action is defined or regulated by the criminal law.
  • That act is classified as a felony under the state penal code.

Variants and Related Words

• Criminal code: A near-synonym often used interchangeably with "penal code."
• Penal law: A broader term that can refer to the entire field of criminal law or statutes within it, not necessarily a single, codified document.

Synonyms

• Criminal code
• Criminal law (in the sense of the written statutes)

Related Phrases

• Violation of the penal code: Committing an act that is prohibited by the criminal law.
  • The prosecutor argued that the defendant's actions were a clear violation of the penal code.

Noun

1. the legal code governing crimes and their punishment