penal

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The interim government is prosecuting Atef Najib under the 1949 penal code, a statute written for ordinary murder, not for crimes against humanity.

From Slate • May 27, 2026

“As well as realistic criminal investigation when they’ve committed a crime in violation of a penal code.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 5, 2026

The punishment for which in Colombia is a prison sentence of between 26 to 45 years, according to the country's penal code.

From Barron's • Jan. 28, 2026

Despite the many Aboriginal communities, the British deemed the place terra nullius—no one’s land—and established a penal colony, bringing diseases that drastically reduced the indigenous population.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026

In other prisons, convicts often said that if you had the right money, or connections, you could get transferred to this Colony whose penal policies sounded almost too good to be true.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey