plural noun
Unpleasant things that people in authority make others experience because they did something wrong.
The school uses different punishments for cheating and fighting.
Harsh punishments can make children hide their mistakes.
American English
How to pronounce punishments
nounB1Common word
PʰUHnihshmnts
/ˈpʰə.nɪʃ.mn̩ts/
3 syllables · Stress the first syllable.
Form of punishment
Unpleasant things that people in authority make others experience because they did something wrong.
Practice out loudMeanings & examples
plural noun
Official penalties given by courts or other legal authorities for breaking the law.
The law allows different punishments for this offense.
The judge compared the punishments available under the law.
Useful expressions
the legal practice of killing someone as punishment for a serious crime
The country abolished capital punishment in 1987.
physical punishment intended to cause pain
Many schools have banned corporal punishment.