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punitive damages

plural noun

Law.

damages awarded to a plaintiff in excess of compensatory damages in order to punish the defendant for a reckless or willful act.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of punitive damages¹

First recorded in 1970–75

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The judgment was for compensatory damages only; determination of punitive damages is still to come.

From

Along with punitive damages, she says in the lawsuit that she is requesting a restraining order and is hoping the legal action will stop "Tate from his pattern of using and abusing women".

From

The lawsuit asks for unspecified statutory and punitive damages.

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The compensatory and punitive damages that plaintiffs are seeking will likely be in the “tens of millions of dollars,” said their attorney, Damion Robinson.

From

He is seeking compensatory and punitive damages in an amount to be determined in court.

From

punitive Punjab

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