forfeit

1 of 3

noun

for·​feit ˈfȯr-fət 

1

: something forfeited or subject to being forfeited (as for a crime, offense, or neglect of duty) : penalty

They were required to pay a forfeit.

2

: forfeiture especially of civil rights

3

a

: something deposited (as for making a mistake in a game) and then redeemed on payment of a fine

b

forfeits plural : a game in which forfeits are exacted

forfeit

2 of 3

verb

forfeited; forfeiting; forfeits

transitive verb

1

: to lose or lose the right to especially by some error, offense, or crime

2

: to subject to confiscation as a forfeit

also : abandon, give up

forfeitable

ˈfȯr-fə-tə-bəl 

adjective

forfeiter noun

forfeit

3 of 3

adjective

: forfeited or subject to forfeiture

Synonyms

Noun

• penalty
• fine
• damages
• forfeiture

Examples of forfeit in a Sentence

Noun

the forfeit for each baseball player involved in the brawl was $5,000

Verb

He forfeited his right to a trial by jury.

They didn't have enough players, so they ended up having to forfeit.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Jurupa Valley previously saw three forfeits in one weekend at the Freeway Games tournament, as Aquinas High School, San Dimas High School, and Yucaipa High School all refused to play Jurupa Valley. —MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025

The forfeits are the first since a lawsuit was filed by three current and former players against the school district and state agencies. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2025

Verb

And by doing so, Alan Wilson forfeits the state’s right to pursue the death penalty in Logan Federico’s case because of prejudice. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2025

Anthony Miller was sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 165 days suspended, placed on probation for five years, ordered to forfeit all companion animals and given a lifetime ban from owning companion animals. —Matthew Cupelli, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Oct. 2025

Adjective

Slusser's lawsuits brought national attention to the program last year, as the team saw multiple opponents forfeit while her and Fleming were pitted as opposing figures in a major American culture war flashpoint. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025

Joliet Junior College 19-7, Morton College 3-0 (Game 1, 5 innings: Game 2, forfeit) Game 1 Joliet Junior College (6-10): Samantha Rios 3-for-4, triple, 3 runs, 3 RBIs. —Josh Krockey, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Verb, and Adjective

Middle English forfait, from Anglo-French, from past participle of forfaire, forsfaire to commit a crime, forfeit, from fors outside (from Latin foris) + faire to do, from Latin facere — more at forum, do

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing forfeit

• by forfeit

Kids Definition

forfeit

1 of 2 noun

for·​feit ˈfȯr-fət 

: something forfeited : penalty, fine

forfeit

2 of 2 verb

: to lose or lose the right to as a punishment for an error, offense, or crime

forfeiter noun

Legal Definition

forfeit

1 of 3 noun

for·​feit ˈfȯr-fət 

: something forfeited or subject to being forfeited

forfeit

2 of 3 transitive verb

1

: to lose or lose the right to by some default, failure, or neglect of obligation or duty or by some offense

shall forfeit to the United States…any proceeds which the person obtained, directly or indirectly, from racketeering activity

—U.S. Code

2

: to subject to forfeiture

it shall be placed in the custody of the Collector, who…shall cause a notice of the seizure and intention to forfeit and sell the same

—Morgan v. United States, 107 F. Supp. 501 (1952)

forfeitability

ˌfȯr-fə-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē

noun

forfeitable adjective

forfeit

3 of 3 adjective

: forfeited or subject to forfeiture

Etymology

Noun

Anglo-French, from Middle French forfait, past participle of forfaire to commit a crime, from fors outside + faire to do