punishment

Pronunciation: /ˈpʌnɪʃmənt/

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun the act of punishing

Etymology

From Middle English punishement, from Old French punissement, from punir (“to punish”). Equivalent to punish + -ment. Displaced native Old English wīte.

In classic literature

Synonyms

penalty, penalization, penalisation

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
social control
Narrower (hyponyms)
corporal punishment, imprisonment, cruel and unusual punishment, stick, music, detention

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