punishment

B1 Topic:Psychology & Behavior

US /ˈpʌnɪʃmənt/ See IPA manual

Freq #2809

Meanings

1

noun
Something unpleasant done to someone because they have done something wrong.

The naughty children were given a punishment by their teacher.
2

noun
The act of making someone suffer for doing wrong.

He believes punishment should help criminals change, not just cause pain.
3

noun
Rough or harsh treatment that something has to bear.

This vehicle can take a lot of punishment on rough roads.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · something unpleasant done... penalty discipline

2 noun · the act of making someone... correction

More castigationchasteningchastisement gruel punition

Word family

Forms punishments

Derived forms antipunishmentcounterpunishmentfunishmentnonpunishmentoverpunishmentpunishmentalself-punishmentunpunishment

Related forms impunity punishable punisher punishing punitive punitorytelishment

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

Proverbs (2)

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Etymology

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

*kʷey- Proto-Indo-European punishement Middle English punissement Old French

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Psychology & Behavior Crime & Justice

External links

# punishment

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈpʌnɪʃmənt/
**Frequency rank:** 2809

## Meanings
1. Something unpleasant done to someone because they have done something wrong.
2. The act of making someone suffer for doing wrong.
3. Rough or harsh treatment that something has to bear.

## Examples
- The naughty children were given a punishment by their teacher.
- He believes punishment should help criminals change, not just cause pain.
- This vehicle can take a lot of punishment on rough roads.

## Synonyms
- castigation
- chastening
- chastisement
- correction
- gruel
- punition

## Derived Forms
- antipunishment
- counterpunishment
- funishment
- nonpunishment
- overpunishment
- punishmental
- self-punishment
- unpunishment

## Related Forms
- impunity
- punishable
- punisher
- punishing
- punitive
- punitory
- telishment

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *kʷey-
- Root: punishement
- Root: punissement

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

## AI Etymology
Punishment comes from Middle English punishement, from Old French punissement, from punir (“to punish”). Equivalent to punish + -ment. Displaced native Old English wīte. The historical chain includes *kʷey- (Proto-Indo-European), punishement (Middle English), punissement (Old French). In present-day English it covers something unpleasant done to someone because they have done something wrong, the act of making someone suffer for doing wrong, and rough or harsh treatment that something has to bear. The wider family includes derived forms such as antipunishment, counterpunishment, funishment, nonpunishment, overpunishment and related forms such as impunity, punishable, punisher, punishing.

## Topics
- Psychology & Behavior
- Crime & Justice

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