punishment

Universal Words noun 1 [U,C] ~ (for sth) an act or a way of punishing sb: to inflict / impose / mete out punishment * What is the punishment for murder? * There is little evidence that harsher punishments deter any better than more lenient ones. * The punishment should fit the crime. * He was sent to his room as a punishment. seealsoCAPITALPUNISHMENT, CORPORALPUNISHMENT 2 [U] rough treatment: The carpet by the door takes the most punishment.