Punish/ˈpʌnɪʃ/ Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Justice Oriented Used when someone deserves a penalty for breaking rules or laws. The school punished the student for cheating on the exam. Pro Tip 2/3Severity Spectrum Can imply a range of severity from a mild penalty to harsh treatment. The company punished the employee with a warning. Pro Tip 3/3Legally Grounded Often associated with formal punishment by authorities or institutions. The court punished the corrupt official with a heavy fine.