adj.1 a of or concerning punishment or its infliction (penal laws; a penal sentence; a penal colony). b (of an offence) punishable, esp. by law.
2 extremely severe (penal taxation).
Phrases and idioms:
penal servitude hist. imprisonment with compulsory labour.
Derivatives:
penally adv.
Etymology: ME f. OF penal or L poenalis f. poena PAIN