penalty

noun

pen·​al·​ty ˈpe-nᵊl-tē 

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

Synonyms

• damages
• fine
• forfeit
• forfeiture
• mulct

Example Sentences

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

In September, the company agreed to spend $2.75 million on penalties and environmental efforts to settle a lawsuit brought by the Environmental Integrity Project on behalf of the Sierra Club. —Alex Dalton, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2023

His was the first death penalty case brought under the Biden administration, which has put a moratorium on executions. —Lauren Del Valle, CNN, 17 May 2023

The actions will settle a civil case against BP Products North America Inc. filed by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency, which described the penalty as the largest ever under the Clean Air Act for pollution from a structure. —John Flesher, Fortune, 17 May 2023

Death penalty on the table If convicted, Kohberger could face the death penalty, which is legal in Idaho. —Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 17 May 2023

Both the United States and the European Union have been ramping up penalties for companies that violate sanctions, and dispatching officials to countries like Kazakhstan to try to persuade them to clamp down on shipments to Russia through their territory. —Niraj Chokshi, New York Times, 15 May 2023

The bill would also make strangulation into a type of felony assault, increasing its penalty to three years’ imprisonment. —Emily Davies, Washington Post, 15 May 2023

Get the agreement and any terms related to it in writing to protect against interest surprises, late fees or penalties. —Lindsey Bever, Anchorage Daily News, 15 May 2023

According to the current law where littering and light pollution will be written in, penalties for those violations begin with an order to correct. —Jordyn Noennig, Journal Sentinel, 15 May 2023

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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

Phrases Containing penalty

• face mask penalty
• major penalty
• penalty kick
• minor penalty
• penalty box
• penalty shot
• the death penalty

• face mask penalty
• major penalty
• penalty kick
• minor penalty
• penalty box
• penalty shot
• the death penalty

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Kids Definition

penalty

noun

pen·​al·​ty ˈpen-ᵊl-tē 

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 

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