forfeit

American  

[fawr-fit] / ˈfɔr fɪt /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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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

Etymology

Origin of forfeit

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”

Example Sentences

And we risk forfeiting the epiphanies that sometimes spring to mind while doing easy, repetitive job functions.

From The Wall Street Journal

With his head dipped and voice low, Soto-Parada pleaded “culpable” through a Spanish interpreter as he forfeited his right to a trial.

From Los Angeles Times

When a star player entered the draft, they automatically forfeited their college eligibility.

From The Wall Street Journal

But the terminally dissatisfied Carol would rather stew in her own low-grade depression and angst that forfeit her free will.

From Los Angeles Times

Businesses sometimes make working conditions unpleasant in the run-up to layoffs, hoping employees will leave on their own and forfeit severance packages.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• abandon
• lose
• relinquish
• renounce
• surrender