punitive damages

plural noun

: damages awarded in excess of compensation to the plaintiff to punish a defendant for a serious wrong

Examples of punitive damages in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The jury awarded her a total of $5 million in compensatory and punitive damages. Russell Lewis, NPR, 30 Dec. 2024 Cuomo is seeking both compensatory and punitive damages, according to the filing. Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024 In his lawsuit, Doe is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024 The litigation is seeking a slate of remedies, including adequate security protocols and the use of independent third party security auditors, as well as unspecified actual, statutory and punitive damages. Ted Johnson, Deadline, 10 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for punitive damages 

Word History

First Known Use

1858, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of punitive damages was in 1858

Dictionary Entries Near punitive damages

Cite this Entry

“Punitive damages.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/punitive%20damages. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.

Legal Definition

punitive damages

see damage sense 2

More from Merriam-Webster on punitive damages

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