The penalty



Example: Penalty punishes violation of law or rules

Definition


"The penalty" in law refers to a punishment imposed for breaking a law or rule, often involving a fine, imprisonment, or other disciplinary action. It serves to enforce legal standards and deter unlawful behavior by imposing consequences on offenders.

Translations



Etymology


The term "the penalty" derives from the Latin word 'poena,' meaning punishment or penalty. Over time, it evolved through Old French 'penalite' and Middle English 'penaltee' to describe consequences imposed for offenses. Did you know? The root 'poena' is also the source of the word 'pain,' reflecting the discomfort associated with penalties.

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"The penalty" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - Law - (A1-C2) - set 1", containing 125 commonly used words.
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