President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, announcing, that all persons held as slaves within the rebellious areas are, and henceforward shall be free..
Definition of punitive damages. : damages awarded in excess of compensation to the plaintiff to punish a defendant for a serious wrong.
â¢ PUNITIVE DAMAGES (noun). The noun PUNITIVE DAMAGES has 1 sense: 1. (law) compensation in excess of actual damages (a form of punishment awarded in cases of malicious or willful misconduct). Familiarity information: PUNITIVE DAMAGES used as a noun is very rare.