penalize

1 of 2

verb

pe·​nal·​ize ˈpē-nə-ˌlīz  ˈpe- 

penalized; penalizing

transitive verb

1

: to inflict a penalty on

2

: to put at a serious disadvantage

penalization

ˈpē-nə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

penalization

2 of 2

noun

pe·​nal·​iza·​tion

variants also British penalisation

ˌpēnᵊlə̇ˈzāshən, 

ˌpen-, 

-ᵊlˌīˈ-

plural -s

1

: the act of penalizing

2

: the state of being penalized

Synonyms of penalize

Verb

• punish

Examples of penalize in a Sentence

Verb

The company was penalized for not paying taxes.

The hockey player was penalized for holding.

This law would unfairly penalize immigrants.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Seattle was flagged 14 times for 129 yards, while Tennessee was penalized 11 for 100 yards. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

Urging more action to combat the practice, the lawyer suggested that the FTC policy statement’s scope was too narrow and should penalize surveillance wage schemes, too. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 21 Aug. 2026

The implication, presumably, was that Carrington, who is Black, was more heavily penalized because of the perception that Cunningham, and by extension her image and outspokenness, needs to be protected. — Jemele Hill, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2026

The suit was not filed under a new law passed earlier this year, which requires more regular inspections of the Geo facility and empowers state authorities to penalize the company for failing to comply with communicable disease probes. — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for penalize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize
• butterflies

Kids Definition

penalize

verb

pe·​nal·​ize ˈpēn-ᵊl-ˌīz  ˈpen- 

penalized; penalizing

1

: to give a penalty to

2

: to place at a disadvantage