penalty

noun

pen·​al·​ty ˈpe-nᵊl-tē How to pronounce penalty (audio)
plural penalties
1
: the suffering in person, rights, or property that is annexed by law or judicial decision to the commission of a crime or public offense
trespassing forbidden under penalty of imprisonment
2
: the suffering or the sum to be forfeited to which a person agrees to be subjected in case of nonfulfillment of stipulations
A penalty was imposed on the contractor for breach of contract.
3
a
: disadvantage, loss, or hardship due to some action
Loss of privacy is one of the penalties you pay for fame.
b
: a disadvantage (such as loss of yardage, time, or possession of the ball or an addition to or subtraction from the score) imposed on a team or competitor for violation of the rules of a sport
The team was given a penalty for the foul.
4
: points scored in bridge by the side that defeats the opposing contract
usually used in plural
penalty adjective

Examples of penalty in a Sentence

The company was given a severe penalty for the violation. They allowed him to pay back the money without a penalty. They allowed him to pay back the money without penalty. Lack of privacy is one of the penalties you pay for fame. The hockey player was given a penalty for holding.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And in that context, any defensive player who comes in hard risks incurring an unnecessary roughness penalty for contact deemed too harsh, even if the whistle hasn’t yet blown. Michael Silver, New York Times, 21 May 2025 What are penalties for selling stuff without a permit? Selling things in California without a valid seller’s permit can get you into legal trouble, according to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 21 May 2025 The penalty for first-time marijuana users can be as severe as up to five years in prison, even if the consumption occurred while the offender was overseas in a place where the drug is legal. Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 21 May 2025 These penalties are spelled out in Section 92.0081 of the Texas Property Code and are meant to prevent landlords — or in this case, hosts — from kicking someone out without due process. Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for penalty

Word History

Etymology

Middle English penalte, from Middle French penalité, from Medieval Latin poenalitas, from Latin poenalis

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of penalty was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Penalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penalty. Accessed 26 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

penalty

noun
pen·​al·​ty ˈpen-ᵊl-tē How to pronounce penalty (audio)
plural penalties
1
: punishment for a crime or offense
2
: something forfeited when one fails to do what one has agreed to do
3
: disadvantage, loss, or hardship due to some action or condition
4
: a punishment or handicap given for breaking a rule in a sport or game

Legal Definition

penalty

noun
pen·​al·​ty ˈpen-ᵊl-tē How to pronounce penalty (audio)
plural penalties
1
: a punishment that is imposed on a wrongdoer by statute or judicial decision
2
: a pecuniary sum that by agreement is to be paid by a party who fails to fulfill an obligation to another and that is punitive rather than compensatory
the court declined to enforce the contractual penalty and determined actual damages instead

More from Merriam-Webster on penalty

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