A state or country's penal code defines its crimes and describes its punishments. During the 18th and 19th centuries, many countries established penal colonies, where criminals were sent as …

The Legislative Service Commission staff updates the Revised Code on an ongoing basis, as it completes its act review of enacted legislation. Updates may be slower during some times of …

PENAL definition: 1. of or relating to punishment given by law: 2. having a harmful effect; causing disadvantage…. Learn more.

Penal definition: of, relating to, or involving punishment, as for crimes or offenses.. See examples of PENAL used in a sentence.

1. Of, relating to, or prescribing punishment, as for breaking the law. 2. Subject to punishment; legally punishable: a penal offense. 3. Serving as or constituting a means or place of …

A penal institution or colony is one where criminals are kept as punishment. ...imprisoned on an island that has served as a penal colony since Roman times.

penal, adj.¹ & n. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary

of or relating to punishment, as for crimes or offenses: a penal code. See -pen-. of, pertaining to, or involving punishment, as for crimes or offenses. prescribing punishment: penal laws. …

Nov 9, 2017 · Definition of penal adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

The term "penal" dates back to the Medieval Latin word "pēnālis," which means "punishment." It refers to actions or behaviors that are subject to punishment under the law.