Which term refers to damages imposed on a defendant in addition to compensation for the plaintiff's loss?

The term that refers to damages imposed on a defendant in addition to compensation for the plaintiff's loss is punitive damages. These are awarded not to compensate the plaintiff for a loss but to punish the defendant and deter similar conduct in the future. Punitive damages are typically granted in situations where the defendant's actions are found to be particularly harmful, reckless, or intentional.

Restitution focuses on restoring the victim to a position they were in before the loss occurred, which does not inherently include punitive elements. Compensatory damages aim to make the plaintiff whole by covering actual losses incurred, such as medical expenses or lost wages, rather than adding a punitive component. Nominal damages are a small amount awarded when a legal wrong has occurred but did not result in substantial loss or injury, and they do not serve the purpose of punishing the defendant. Therefore, punitive damages are specifically meant to go beyond mere compensation, addressing the need for accountability and deterrence.