punishable

punishable — adjective

1. describes a crime or action that the law considers wrong, and for which a person

1.形容詞B2
釋義

describes a crime or action that the law considers wrong, and for which a person may face a penalty such as a fine or time in prison.

例句

In Singapore, vandalism is a punishable offence that can result in a fine or prison.

collocation: punishable offence

Ryo was warned that his actions were punishable under the new data protection rules.

pattern: punishable under [law/rule]

同義詞
  • illegal

    broader term — something illegal is against the law, but not every illegal act is specifically a punishable offence carrying a defined penalty

  • criminal

    implies that the act is a crime (a serious offence), whereas punishable can also apply to lesser statutory violations

  • actionable

    specifically means grounds for a civil lawsuit, not criminal punishment; a narrower legal term

反義詞
  • immune

    not subject to punishment; typically used for diplomats or specific legal exemptions

  • permissible

    allowed by law, therefore not punishable

文法句型

be + punishable

be + punishable + by + [penalty]

be + punishable + under + [law/rule]

punishable + offence/crime/act

常見錯誤

❌Stealing is punishable of three years in prison.
✅Stealing is punishable by up to three years in prison.
💡the correct preposition is 'by' for penalties, not 'of'.
❌He did a punishable mistake.
✅He made a punishable mistake.
💡'punishable' is an adjective that modifies the crime/act, not the person; use 'make a mistake' not 'do a mistake'.