punitive awardnoun [ C ]
ukusalso punitive damage award LAWan amount of money that someone who commits a crime has to pay, that is intended to be large enough to prevent them or others from committing similar crimes in the future:
impose a punitive award (against sb) The Supreme Court imposed a punitive award of $4.6 million against the company.
make a punitive award to sb The judge made a punitive award of €100,000 to the sacked workers.