pun ‧ ish ‧ ment W3 /ˈpʌnɪʃmənt/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ punishable , ↑ punishing , ↑ unpunished , ↑ punitive ; verb : ↑ punish ; noun : ↑ punishment ]
1 . [uncountable and countable] something that is done in order to punish someone, or the act of punishing them ⇨ punitive
punishment for
The punishment for treason is death.
as a punishment
I was sent to bed as a punishment.
2 . [uncountable] informal rough physical treatment:
tough plants that can take any amount of punishment
⇨ ↑ capital punishment
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COLLOCATIONS
■ adjectives
▪ harsh/severe
The court decided the original punishment was too severe.
▪ light
The punishment seemed very light.
▪ just/fitting (=appropriate and right)
Death would be a just punishment.
▪ physical punishment
Children respond more to affection than to physical punishment.
▪ corporal punishment (=when someone punishes a child by hitting them)
Corporal punishment is banned in state schools.
▪ capital punishment (=death as a punishment for a crime)
The are trying to abolish capital punishment except in cases of terrorism.
▪ the maximum punishment
The charge against him carries a maximum punishment of a year in jail.
■ verbs
▪ give somebody a punishment
He deserved the punishment he was given.
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The teacher may impose reasonable punishments.
▪ hand out punishments (=give people punishments)
The courts are handing out harsher punishments to reckless drivers.
▪ impose/mete out a punishment formal (=give someone a punishment)
Life imprisonment should be the maximum punishment meted out by the state.
▪ receive a punishment
He received the maximum punishment.
▪ escape/avoid punishment
The thieves managed to escape punishment.
▪ carry a punishment (=used when saying what the punishment for something is)
The offence carries a punishment of up to 10 years in prison.
▪ inflict a punishment (on somebody) (=punish someone, especially physically)
The abbot could inflict corporal punishment for gross disobedience.
■ phrases
▪ the punishment should fit the crime (=it should be appropriate)
The public believe that the punishment should fit the crime.
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THESAURUS
▪ punishment something that is done in order to punish someone, or the act of punishing them:
I don’t think they deserved such a severe punishment.
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The usual punishment is life in prison.
▪ sentence a punishment given by a judge in a court:
He was given a long prison sentence.
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They asked for the maximum sentence.
▪ fine an amount of money that you must pay as a punishment:
I got an £80 fine for speeding.
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There are heavy fines for drink-driving.
▪ penalty a general word for a punishment given to someone who has broken a law, rule, or agreement:
What’s the penalty if you get caught?
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He called for stiffer penalties for crimes involving guns.
▪ the death penalty ( also capital punishment ) the system in which people are killed as a punishment for crimes:
If he is found guilty, he faces the death penalty.
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A number of states have abolished capital punishment.
▪ community service unpaid work helping other people that someone does as punishment for a crime:
He was given a choice between doing 200 hours of community service, or a big fine.
▪ corporal punishment the punishment of children by hitting them:
I don’t agree with corporal punishment.
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Corporal punishment was abolished in schools in 1987.