Words / B2

PUN-ish/ˈpʌnɪʃ/

To punish is to make someone suffer because they have done something wrong: punish an offence; be punished for. Punishment is the noun; penalty is often a set official price. The statute punishes the offence; name the section. Mix-up: punch; publish. Do not write punish for “the weather was bad”.

Meaning

To make someone suffer because they have done something wrong.

Examples

• “The statute punishes the offence; name the section in the paper.”
• “Do not punish a whole year group for one incident, which is the fairness sense in the policy.”

Good to know

punish + person / offence; punish someone for. Noun: punishment. Close: penalise. Trap: punch. Law, history, and pastoral. Official or formal penalty, not a slapstick hit.

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