penalty box

noun

: an area alongside an ice hockey rink to which penalized players are confined for the duration of their penalty

Examples of penalty box in a Sentence

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.
Amorim began deploying Fernandes deeper last season to help with United’s uncertain build-up play, but then his influence would be missed nearer the opposition’s penalty box. Mark Critchley, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2025 Madrid also seems to have unearthed a gem in Gonzalo Garcia, whom Herrera thinks can be Madrid’s penalty box poacher. Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025 JPMorgan bought First Republic in 2023, Wells Fargo is finally out of the penalty box and able to grow, and Morgan Stanley — whose rivalry with Goldman is ancient and reflexive — has cemented itself as the best acquirer on Wall Street with a string of takeovers from Smith Barney to E*Trade. Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 21 July 2025 Gabriel Pec played an long arcing ball to the top of the penalty box, where Marco Reus tapped a first-touch pass to a wide-open Paintsil, who calmly flicked a shot inside the back post from the left side of the area. Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for penalty box

Word History

First Known Use

1907, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of penalty box was in 1907

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Cite this Entry

“Penalty box.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/penalty%20box. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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