penal

adjective

pe·​nal ˈpē-nᵊl 

1

: of, relating to, or involving punishment, penalties, or punitive institutions

2

: liable to punishment

a penal offense

3

: used as a place of confinement and punishment

a penal colony

penally

ˈpē-nᵊl-ē 

adverb

Did you know?

A state or country's penal code defines its crimes and describes its punishments. During the 18th and 19th centuries, many countries established penal colonies, where criminals were sent as punishment. Often these were unbearably severe; but it was to such colonies that some of Australia's and the United States' early white inhabitants came, and the convicts provided labor for the European settlement of these lands.

Synonyms

• castigating
• chastening
• chastising
• correcting
• correctional
• corrective
• disciplinary
• disciplining
• penalizing
• punitive

Examples of penal in a Sentence

Australia was once a penal colony.

Recent Examples on the Web

But when a president, at the end of his term in office, in the interest of fairness, corrects mistakes made by the penal system during his or a previous president's term, that is often a grace note of his time in office. —Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024

The county prisoners held at the site were moved to Milwaukee County's new penal farm in what was then the Town of Franklin. —Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2024

The authorities pledged that the facility would be run in accordance with standard legal norms and penal practices, unlike its predecessor. —Richard J. Evans, Foreign Affairs, 12 Dec. 2017

On Tuesday, Jamall Rabb Russell, 39, pleaded not guilty to charges of abuse of residents of penal facilities and misconduct in public office, and Sarah Anne Margaret Ransbottom, 35, pleaded not guilty to a charge of misconduct in public office. —Vanessa Swales, Journal Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin poenalis, from poena punishment — more at pain entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing penal

• penal code
• penal colony
• penal institution

Kids Definition

penal

adjective

pe·​nal ˈpēn-ᵊl 

: of or relating to punishment

penal laws

a penal colony

Legal Definition

penal

adjective

pe·​nal ˈpēn-ᵊl 

1

: of, relating to, or being punishment

penal sanctions

2

: making one (as an offender) punishable

a penal offense

also : criminal sense 2

3

: used as a place of confinement and punishment

a penal institution