What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
disciplinary
Example
The teacher used disciplinary measures to address the student's misbehavior. [disciplinary: adjective]
Example
The company has a disciplinary policy in place to ensure employees follow the code of conduct. [disciplinary: noun]
retributive
Example
The judge handed down a retributive sentence to the defendant, reflecting the severity of the crime. [retributive: adjective]
Example
The victim's family demanded a retributive punishment for the perpetrator of the crime. [retributive: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Disciplinary is more commonly used than retributive in everyday language, especially in educational and workplace settings. Retributive is more commonly used in legal or criminal justice contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between disciplinary and retributive?
Disciplinary is typically associated with a formal and professional tone, while retributive is associated with a more serious and severe tone, often used in legal or criminal justice contexts.
