Definitions

corporal punishment

NOUN

physical punishment

Synonyms

STRONGEST

spanking whipping

WEAK

beating flagellation flogging paddling

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.

With his older brother John, he ran a school, having left a previous teaching post from a disinclination to administer corporal punishment.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

As well as educating children about their rights, he also holds workshops to train teachers how to deliver discipline without using corporal punishment.

From BBC • Oct. 29, 2023

Only three states fully ban corporal punishment at both public and private schools; 25 make it illegal in public schools, but allow private school teachers to use physical force as punishment for students.

From Slate • Sep. 12, 2023

As Human Rights Watch explained in a recent report, "US states overwhelmingly fail to live up to key standards" on "the issues of child marriage, corporal punishment, child labor, and juvenile justice."

From Salon • Sep. 8, 2023

Regardless, it fell out that Katherine and I were saved the corporal punishment and instead assigned house duty for two weeks.

From "Dread Nation" by Justina Ireland