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