A state or country's penal code defines its crimes and describes its punishments. During the 18th and 19th centuries, many countries established penal colonies, where criminals were sent as …

PENAL definition: 1. of or relating to punishment given by law: 2. having a harmful effect; causing disadvantage…. Learn more.

1. Of, relating to, or prescribing punishment, as for breaking the law. 2. Subject to punishment; legally punishable: a penal offense. 3. Serving as or constituting a means or place of …

PENAL definition: of, relating to, or involving punishment, as for crimes or offenses. See examples of penal used in a sentence.

Penal means relating to the punishment of criminals. ...penal and legal systems.

Whenever you see the adjective penal, you'll know it has to do with court-ordered punishment. A government's penal code, for example, is a list of crimes and the punishments imposed for …

penal, adj.¹ & n. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary