penalty

American  

[pen-l-tee] / ˈpɛn l ti /

noun

• penalties
  plural

1. a punishment imposed or incurred for a violation of law or rule.

2. a loss, forfeiture, suffering, or the like, to which one subjects oneself by nonfulfillment of some obligation.

3. something that is forfeited, as a sum of money.

4. a disadvantage imposed upon one of the competitors or upon one side for infraction of the rules of a game, sport, etc.

5. consequence or disadvantage attached to any action, condition, etc.

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penalty British  

/ ˈpɛnəltɪ /

noun

1. a legal or official punishment, such as a term of imprisonment

2. some other form of punishment, such as a fine or forfeit for not fulfilling a contract

3. loss, suffering, or other unfortunate result of one's own action, error, etc

4. sport games a handicap awarded against a player or team for illegal play, such as a free shot at goal by the opposing team, loss of points, etc

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• penalties
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of penalty

1505–15; ≪ Medieval Latin poenālitās. See penal, -ty ²

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Explanation

A penalty is a punishment or consequence for doing something wrong, such as having to pay a fee for not bringing your library book back when it was due. In hockey, players who break the rules have to sit in "the penalty box." Just like the penalty box punishes hockey players, all penalties are punishments for doing something wrong. Going to prison is the penalty for serious crimes. Detention is the penalty for misbehaving in school. Often, penalty applies to payments people have to make for breaking a financial contract of some kind.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

penalty penalties

Initially refusing Medicare and applying later, or canceling and reapplying, triggers a late-enrollment penalty.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

However, Chelsea paid a £5m penalty to send Sancho back to Old Trafford after he made 41 appearances.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

A critical climate case is on the docket and the justice’s record on the death penalty was on full display with the botched execution of Christa Pike; they discuss it all.

From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026

US authorities announced the penalty late Tuesday afternoon, charging that the bank failed to properly report more than $5 billion in "suspicious transactions," some related to national security risks.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

Then at one point halfway through the month, she herself suggested upping the amount of the penalty she would give us for being late from one dollar to five dollars.

From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio

Those who wait for this enrollment period may be subject to penalties.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026

Bank of America will pay $1.2 billion in penalties to settle violations of anti-money laundering and sanction laws.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 14, 2026

Jurgen Klopp's men lost to City on penalties following a 1-1 draw.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

Treasury Department said it is imposing $1.21 billion in penalties against Bank of America for violating laws designed to prevent financial crimes.

From Barron's ● Oct. 13, 2026

Yet these civil penalties, although not considered punishment by our courts, often make it virtually impossible for people who have been convicted of crimes to integrate into the mainstream society and economy upon release.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

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Related Words

• cost
• discipline
• fine
• forfeiture
• punishment

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