penalties

penalties definition - legal

n

  1. Punishment in the form of fines or prison terms imposed on wrongdoers. Although normally applied in criminal cases, there are some cases of civil misdeeds for which a penalty (as distinct from a remedy) may be imposed.
  2. Damages imposed by a contract for failing to meet a certain obligation, such as completion by the agreed-upon date.

Webster's New World Law Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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