adjective

• (of an act) subject to a judicial punishment.

  ‘a criminal offense punishable by up to three years in jail’

  More example sentences

  • ‘a punishable offense’
  • ‘If such information is leaked to overseas media, this may be a criminal act punishable by imprisonment.’
  • ‘Caging and displaying parrots and parakeets is illegal and punishable by a fine and up to five years in prison.’
  • ‘In Victoria, begging is a criminal offence punishable by imprisonment under the Vagrancy Act.’
  • ‘That is dishonorable and punishable by death, if you follow the old samurai credo!’
  • ‘Instead, they face charges of criminal mischief, punishable by up to two years in the penitentiary.’

  Synonyms

  illegal, unlawful, illegitimate, criminal, felonious, actionable, prosecutable, indictable, penal, blameworthy, dishonest, fraudulent, unauthorized, unsanctioned, outlawed, banned, forbidden, barred, prohibited, interdicted, proscribed

  View synonyms