forfeit

[fawr-fit]

noun

1. a fine; penalty.

2. an act of forfeiting; forfeiture.

3. something to which the right is lost, as for commission of a crime or misdeed, neglect of duty, or violation of a contract.

4. an article deposited in a game because of a mistake and redeemable by a fine or penalty.

5. (used with a singular verb),  forfeits, a game in which such articles are taken from the players.

verb (used with object)

1. to subject to seizure as a forfeit.

2. to lose or become liable to lose, as in consequence of crime, fault, or breach of engagement.

   Synonyms: waive, forgo, relinquish, yield, surrender, mulct

adjective

1. lost or subject to loss by forfeiture.

forfeit

/ ˈfɔːfɪt /

noun

1. something lost or given up as a penalty for a fault, mistake, etc

2. the act of losing or surrendering something in this manner

3. law something confiscated as a penalty for an offence, breach of contract, etc

4. (sometimes plural)

   1. a game in which a player has to give up an object, perform a specified action, etc, if he commits a fault

   2. an object so given up

verb

1. (tr) to lose or be liable to lose in consequence of a mistake, fault, etc

2. (tr) law

   1. to confiscate as punishment

   2. to surrender (something exacted as a penalty)

adjective

1. surrendered or liable to be surrendered as a penalty

Other Word Forms

• forfeitable adjective
• forfeiter noun
• nonforfeitable adjective
• nonforfeiting adjective
• reforfeit verb (used with object)
• unforfeitable adjective
• unforfeiting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of forfeit¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English forfet, from Old French (past participle of forfaire “to commit crime, to lose possession or right through a criminal act”), from Medieval Latin forīs factum “penalty,” past participle of forīs facere “to transgress,” equivalent to Latin forīs “outside, wrongly” + facere “to make, do”

Word History and Origins

Origin of forfeit¹

C13: from Old French forfet offence, from forfaire to commit a crime, from Medieval Latin foris facere to act outside (what is lawful), from Latin foris outside + facere to do

Example Sentences

District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled in March that the Amadea was to be forfeited to the federal government.

From Los Angeles Times

If the petition were denied, I would still have to forfeit the $50,000.

From Salon

If a player withdraws less than 30 minutes before the first singles match starts, their match is forfeited.

From BBC

Her forfeit was to straighten her mop of curly hair for the team's evening meal.

From BBC

On Thursday afternoon, Hamilton and Pacifica decided to play each other after both schools were given forfeit victories.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abandon 
• lose 
• relinquish 
• renounce 
• surrender