noun · formal
punishment
/ˈpʌn.ɪʃ.mənt/PUN·ish·ment
a penalty given for wrongdoing, often imposed by a court or authority
Examples
“Many countries debate whether corporal punishment should be allowed in schools.”
“The court decided on a severe punishment for the fraudster.”
“The penalty for breaking the law can include fines or imprisonment as punishment.”
Band 8 sentence
“Debates about the effectiveness of punishment versus rehabilitation are central to modern criminal justice reform.”
Collocations
- capital punishment
- receive punishment
- punishment for
Word family
Common mistakes
He got a punishment of $500.→He got a fine of $500.
She was punished with prison sentence.→She was punished with a prison sentence.
Say it for a higher band
5fine→6penalty→7+punishment
Synonyms
penalty
sanction
Easily confused
penalty
“The referee awarded a penalty to the attacking team.”
Related words
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In -ment
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