punishable

Punishable is an adjective used in legal contexts to describe conduct or omissions that are subject to sanction by the law. An act is punishable if a statute or regulation explicitly provides a penalty for committing it, and the act is legally recognized as a crime, offense, or regulatory violation. Punishments commonly include criminal penalties such as imprisonment, fines, probation, and restitution, as well as civil or administrative penalties like damages, injunctions, or license sanctions.

The determination of punishability often depends on the jurisdiction and the category of law (criminal, civil, administrative). In criminal law, punishability may require a guilty mental state (mens rea) for the offense, though some offenses are strict liability and punishable regardless of intent. Defenses may render an act non-punishable or reduce liability, such as legal necessity, insanity, duress, or lack of jurisdiction. The term is frequently used in statutory language (for example, "acts punishable by up to five years in prison") and in legal commentary to indicate whether conduct may be sanctioned.