Pensum is a noun that refers to a task assigned as punishment.

The Latin word pensus refers to something done for the sake of justice or punishment. Our word of the day comes from this origin and maintains a similar meaning. A pensum is often something assigned in a school setting to punish a student. Here’s an example:

As a teenager, I always thought washing the walls was my pensum for being smarter than my teachers. But in reality, I was being punished for writing graffiti.