1. A process or action of chastising or disciplining someone: The students were sent to the principal for punishment because they smoked during the lesson!
2. A penalisation for a wrongdoing, particularly a crime: The lawbreaker had to undergo a harsh punishment for drinking while driving at a very high speed through the town.
3. Anguish or suffering by pain inflicted as a retaliation: Jack took Tom's cell phone without asking for permission, and, as a result, the punishment Tom took for revenge ended their friendship.