penal

adjective

Stress: first syllable

Syllables: pe-nal (2)

English Definition

Relating to, used for, or prescribing the punishment of offenders.

Example Sentence

The country's penal code needs to be reformed.

US IPA /ˈpiːnl/

UK IPA /ˈpiːnl/

punitive disciplinary corrective retributive

rewarding pardonable exonerative