retributivism: Meaning and Definition of

re•trib•u•tiv•ism

Pronunciation: (ri-trib'yu-tu-viz"um), [key]
— n.
  1. a policy or theory of criminal justice that advocates the punishment of criminals in retribution for the harm they have inflicted.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.