penal: Meaning and Definition of

pe•nal

Pronunciation: (pēn'l), [key]
— adj.
  1. of, pertaining to, or involving punishment, as for crimes or offenses.
  2. prescribing punishment: penal laws.
  3. constituting punishment: He survived the years of penal hardship.
  4. used as a place of confinement and punishment: a penal colony.
  5. subject to or incurring punishment: a penal offense.
  6. payable or forfeitable as a penalty: a penal sum.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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