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 punishment.
- of or pertaining to punishment, as for crimes or offenses. 2. prescribing punishment: penal laws. 3. used as a place of confinement and punishment: a penal colony. 4. subject to or incurring punishment: a penal offense.
PENAL meaning: 1. of or relating to punishment given by law: 2. having a harmful effect; causing disadvantage…. Learn more.
A penal code is a set of statutes that concern criminal offenses (e.g., California Penal Code, Texas Penal Code). A penal institution is a place where people who have been convicted of committing criminal offenses are confined.
penal | Wex | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute
This term is often used in the context of law and justice systems, such as penal codes (laws and regulations specifying punishments for crimes) or penal institutions (prisons or correctional facilities).
penal: Of, relating to, or prescribing punishment, as for breaking the law.
Penal definition: Of, relating to, or prescribing punishment, as for breaking the law.
PENAL definition: of, relating to, or involving punishment, as for crimes or offenses. See examples of penal used in a sentence.
of or relating to punishment, as for crimes or offenses: a penal code. See -pen-. of, pertaining to, or involving punishment, as for crimes or offenses. prescribing punishment: penal laws. constituting punishment: He survived the years of penal hardship. used as a place of confinement and punishment: a penal colony.