Punitive damages are defined as:

• A. Damages that pay over and above the actual loss
• B. Damages equal to actual loss
• C. Damages awarded to compensate for anticipated future losses
• D. Nominal damages

Answer: (B)

Punitive damages are intended to punish the wrongdoer and to deter similar conduct, not to make the plaintiff whole. They are awarded in addition to the actual harm suffered, effectively paying over and above the proven loss. This is why the description that focuses on damages going beyond the actual loss best captures punitive damages. In contrast, compensatory damages aim to compensate for actual harm, prospective damages address anticipated future losses, and nominal damages are a token amount when no real injury is proven.