What does infliction mean?
Infliction is a formal noun for the act of imposing a punishment, penalty, or suffering, and for the resulting punishment or hardship. Its clearest use is in the phrase “the infliction of punishment,” especially in legal, historical, and public-affairs contexts: “The court questioned the severity of the infliction.” The related verb is “inflict,” from which “infliction” derives. The word can also refer more broadly to the experience of being subjected to pain, loss, or adversity, as in “an infliction upon the family.” Although its meaning is related to that of “affliction,” the two words are not interchangeable: an infliction emphasizes the imposition of suffering or punishment, while an affliction emphasizes the suffering itself. In ordinary speech, “punishment,” “penalty,” or “hardship” will usually be clearer and more natural.
The act of imposing a punishment, penalty, or suffering on someone or something.
"The judge reduced the infliction after considering the circumstances."
Formal and literary; especially common in legal and historical writing.
A punishment, penalty, or instance of suffering imposed on someone or something.
"The loss of the archive was a lasting infliction on the town."
Plural form used for separate acts, punishments, or instances of imposed suffering.
"The community endured numerous inflictions during the conflict."
An infliction is punishment given, but an affliction is suffering endured—the two words capture the difference between causing hardship and experiencing it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does infliction come from?
“Infliction” entered English in the early 17th century from Latin inflictio, a noun formed from inflicere, “to strike against” or “to impose.” The Latin verb combined in- with fligere, “to strike or drive,” and is related to words such as “afflict” and “affliction.” In English, the meaning developed from the general idea of applying or imposing something, especially punishment or suffering, onto a narrower conventional sense.
Related word forms
How infliction is actually used
The word is formal and somewhat literary. It is more common in legal, historical, and formal prose than in everyday conversation.
Easily confused with infliction
An infliction is a punishment or imposed suffering, whereas an inflection is a change in the form of a word, such as the plural of “child.”
Infliction names the act of imposing a punishment or hardship, while affliction is the suffering or condition imposed.