Definition

1. Noun:
   • The act or process of imposing a penalty on someone for an offense or wrongdoing: "Punishment" refers to the official or formal infliction of a consequence for breaking a rule or law.
   • A penalty inflicted as a consequence of an offense: "Punishment" can also refer to the specific penalty itself, such as a fine, imprisonment, or other sanction.

Usage and Examples

• As a noun (general act):

  • The punishment for the crime was severe. (The penalty imposed for committing the crime was severe.)
  • Many believe that capital punishment is a controversial practice. (Many believe the death penalty is a controversial practice.)

• As a noun (specific penalty):

  • He received a punishment of community service. (The specific penalty he received was community service.)
  • The teacher's punishment was to write an essay. (The specific penalty from the teacher was to write an essay.)

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "To be a punishment": to be very difficult or unpleasant, often used hyperbolically.

  • This traffic is a punishment. (This heavy traffic is very unpleasant, like a penalty.)

• "To mete out punishment": to administer or dispense punishment formally.

  • The judge will mete out punishment to the guilty party. (The judge will formally administer the penalty.)

Variants and Related Words

• Punish (verb): to subject someone to a penalty for an offense.

  • The system exists to punish criminals.

• Punitive (adjective): inflicting or intended as punishment.

  • The government imposed punitive tariffs.

• Punisher (noun): one who punishes.

  • He was seen as the punisher in the group.

Synonyms

• Penalty: A punishment imposed for breaking a law, rule, or contract.
• Sanction: A penalty for disobeying a law or rule, often used in official contexts.
• Discipline: Training that corrects, molds, or perfects, often involving punishment.

Related Phrases and Collocations

• Capital punishment: The legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime (the death penalty).
• Corporal punishment: Physical punishment, such as caning or flogging.
• Cruel and unusual punishment: Punishment prohibited by the U.S. Constitution as being too severe or degrading.

Idioms and Figurative Use

• "The punishment fits the crime": The penalty is appropriate and proportionate to the offense committed.

  • A life sentence seems fair; the punishment fits the crime.

• "Glutton for punishment": Someone who habitually takes on unpleasant or difficult tasks.

  • He volunteered for the night shift again? He's a glutton for punishment.

Noun

1. the act of punishing