What term describes monetary damages intended to punish the defendant and deter future misconduct?

The term that describes monetary damages intended to punish the defendant and deter future misconduct is punitive damages. These damages are awarded above and beyond the compensatory damages that cover actual losses and are specifically designed to hold the wrongdoer accountable for their behavior. Punitive damages signal to both the victim and society that certain behaviors are unacceptable, thus serving a broader purpose in the legal system by encouraging lawful conduct.

In contrast, special damages refer to specific, quantifiable losses such as medical expenses or lost wages that a plaintiff has incurred due to an incident. Personal injury is a general term that refers to harm to a person’s body, mind, or emotions, typically within the context of a legal claim. Bodily injury focuses specifically on physical harm inflicted upon a person. While these terms relate to damages in legal cases, only punitive damages directly fulfill the purpose of punishing the defendant and deterring similar conduct in the future.