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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
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
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Word History
First Known Use
1858, in the meaning defined above
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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
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