/ Dictionary / Index P punitive damages: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: pu'nitive dam'ages Pronunciation: [key] — Law. Law. damages awarded to a plaintiff in excess of compensatory damages in order to punish the defendant for a reckless or willful act. Also calledCf. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. punitive Punjab Related Content Daily Word Quiz: rustic Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language