forfeit

[ fawr-fit ]

/ ˈfɔr fɪt /

noun

a fine; penalty.

an act of forfeiting; forfeiture.

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

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

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

verb (used with object)

to subject to seizure as a forfeit.

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

adjective

lost or subject to loss by forfeiture.

Nearby words

Origin of forfeit

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

SYNONYMS FOR forfeit

7. surrender, yield, relinquish, forgo, waive.

Related forms

for·feit·a·ble, adjectivefor·feit·er, nounnon·for·feit·a·ble, adjectivenon·for·feit·ing, adjective

re·for·feit, verb (used with object)un·for·feit·a·ble, adjectiveun·for·feit·ed, adjectiveun·for·feit·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for forfeited

He forfeited any real chance of winning American Jewish voters when he chose Ryan, says Peter Beinart.
Romney Lost the American Jewish Vote by Picking Paul Ryan|Peter Beinart|August 14, 2012|DAILY BEAST
WINNER(S) MUST ATTEND THE PRIZE CEREMONY IN NEW YORK ON JUNE 20, 2012 OR ALL PRIZES WILL BE FORFEITED.
Newsweek & The Daily Beast-Open Hands Prize for Commentary: Official Rules|The Daily Beast|May 4, 2012|DAILY BEAST
WINNER MUST CLAIM OTHER PRIZES WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THE CEREMONY OR ANY PRIZE NOT CLAIMED WILL BE FORFEITED.
Newsweek & The Daily Beast-Open Hands Prize for Commentary: Official Rules|The Daily Beast|May 4, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The solution to the puzzle may be to admit that the GOP has forfeited 2012 before the general election even starts.
Romney and Gingrich Set the GOP on a Path Toward Self-Destruction|John Batchelor|January 30, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Recently I found myself wondering how much money I forfeited by working for less than male peers during my years at the Times.
The Supreme Court's Cluelessness on Gender Bias|Leslie Bennetts|June 22, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The non-importation act being still in force, these goods were seized as forfeited to the Government.
The Second War with England, Vol. 1 of 2|J. T. Headley.
Accordingly, on behalf of the highly respectable Miss Heald, I now ask that the recognizances be forfeited.
The Magnificent Montez|Horace Wyndham
It might be that, owing to circumstances, the time was extended, or the contract might be forfeited for non-performance.
McClure's Magazine, Vol. 1, No. 3, August, 1893|Various
But the men in power fumbled and floundered on until we had forfeited our mastery in the air to our enemies.
England and Germany|Emile Joseph Dillon
He had forfeited the right of appearing before Zeus as a suitor; for indeed he was no longer such as he had been only yesterday.
A Thorny Path [Per Aspera], Complete|Georg Ebers

British Dictionary definitions for forfeited

forfeit

/ (ˈfɔːfɪt) /

noun

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

the act of losing or surrendering something in this manner

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

(sometimes plural)

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

verb

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

(tr) law

to confiscate as punishment
to surrender (something exacted as a penalty)

adjective

surrendered or liable to be surrendered as a penalty

Derived Formsforfeitable, adjectiveforfeiter, noun

Word Origin for forfeit

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for forfeited

forfeit

c.1300, "misdeed," from Old French forfait "crime, punishable offense" (12c.), originally past participle of forfaire "transgress," from for- "outside, beyond" (from Latin foris; see foreign) + faire "to do" (from Latin facere; see factitious). Translating Medieval Latin foris factum. Sense shifted mid-15c. from the crime to the penalty: "something to which the right is lost through a misdeed." As an adjective from late 14c., from Old French forfait.

forfeit

c.1300, "to lose by misconduct;" see forfeit (n.). Related: Forfeited; forfeiting.

forfeit

noun

verb (used with object)

adjective

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of forfeit

Examples from the Web for forfeited

forfeit

noun

verb

adjective

Word Origin for forfeit

forfeit

forfeit