Talking about Punishment: English Vocabulary List

the act of making someone suffer because they have done something illegal or wrong

"The punishment was very harsh."

"The judge decided that the punishment for the crime was not severe enough to deter future offenders."

a place where criminals are put into by law as a form of punishment for their crimes

"He spent the night in a cold jail cell."

"Debtors' jail was a grim historical institution where people unable to pay a court-ordered judgment were physically imprisoned until they worked off their debt through labor."

a building where people who did something illegal, such as stealing, murder, etc., are kept as a punishment

"He spent ten years in prison."

"The criminal was sentenced to ten years in prison for his role in the armed robbery."

to put someone in prison or keep them somewhere and not let them go

"The judge will imprison the convicted felon."

"The judge decided to imprison the repeat offender for ten years to protect the public from further harm."

to cause someone suffering for breaking the law or having done something they should not have

"Parents must punish bad behavior appropriately."

"Parents should punish their children appropriately when they misbehave but physical violence is never an acceptable response."

to make someone pay a sum of money as punishment for violation of the law

"The court will fine the speeding driver."

"The court will fine the driver five hundred dollars for running a red light and causing an accident."