adj incurring punishment; subject to a penalty; as, a penalact of offense.
2. penal ·adj enacting or threatening punishment; as, a penal statue; the penal code.
3. penal ·adj inflicted as punishment; used as a means of punishment; as, a penal colony or settlement.
4. penal ·adj of or pertaining to punishment, to penalties, or to crimes and offenses; pertaining to criminal jurisprudence.