The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Punitive \Pu"ni*tive\, a.
   Of or pertaining to punishment; involving, awarding, or
   inflicting punishment; as, punitive law or justice.
   [1913 Webster]

         If death be punitive, so, likewise, is the necessity
         imposed upon man of toiling for his subsistence. -- I.
                                                  Taylor.
   [1913 Webster]

         We shall dread a blow from the punitive hand.
                                                  --Bagehot.
   [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

punitive
    adj 1: inflicting punishment; "punitive justice"; "punitive
           damages" [syn: punitive, punitory] [ant:
           rehabilitative]