forfeit

[ fawr-fit ]

/ ˈfɔr fɪt /

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See synonyms for: forfeit / forfeited / forfeiting on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR forfeit

1 mulct.

7 surrender, yield, relinquish, forgo, waive.

See synonyms for forfeit on Thesaurus.com

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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”

OTHER WORDS FROM forfeit

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·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use forfeit in a sentence

Dark patterns come in many forms and can trick a person out of time or money or into forfeiting personal data.
Lawmakers take aim at insidious digital “dark patterns”|WIRED|January 30, 2021|Ars Technica
The person who takes enormous offense over an honest mistake forfeits some measure of her respect, if not the right to be properly addressed.
Miss Manners: Stop trying to please abusive parent|Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin, Jacobina Martin|January 27, 2021|Washington Post
By resigning, he forfeited the salary he was due for the final two years of his Middle Tennessee contract, though he hasn’t ruled out a lawsuit against the school.
A college football coach’s season at war with the coronavirus — and his own school|Kent Babb|January 19, 2021|Washington Post
Bute pleaded guilty and agreed to forfeit eight vacation days for the misconduct, but the commissioner, citing “the interest of justice,” reduced the penalty to five days of lost vacation.
What It Looks Like When the New York City Police Commissioner Has “Unchecked Power” Over Officer Discipline|by Mollie Simon, Lena V. Groeger, Eric Umansky and Adriana Gallardo|December 11, 2020|ProPublica

Had Xiaomi kept its supply chain in place—it was almost entirely based in China at the time—the tariffs would have forced it to raise prices, forfeiting a big competitive edge.
How Chinese phonemaker Xiaomi conquered India—and outperformed Apple|eamonbarrett|December 3, 2020|Fortune
Our response for eight years has been to allow China to pursue its interests aggressively, while forfeiting our own.
Obama's Reckless, Ridiculous China Policy|John Bolton|February 4, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Chamberlain, of course, chose Rome over the object of his heart's ache, forfeiting love and dying a broken man.
The Passion of Mark Sanford|Kathleen Parker|June 27, 2009|DAILY BEAST
He was alike capable of sacrificing all his feelings to worldly considerations or of forfeiting the world for a visionary caprice.
Endymion|Benjamin Disraeli
No man wins triumphs in that way, without forfeiting some palms of glory.
Harper's New Monthly Magazine Vol. IV, No. 19, Dec 1851|Various
Do you remember forfeiting several thousand dollars to him one evening in a certain room?
The Incendiary|W. A. (William Augustine) Leahy
M. Louis Blanc has certainly no idea of forfeiting either of these attractions by laying claim to the other.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 56, Number 347, September, 1844|Various
Mr Graham himself frequently joined in both, without incurring the slightest danger of forfeiting respect by condescension.
Discipline|Mary Brunton

British Dictionary definitions for forfeit

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 forms of forfeit

forfeitable, 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

forfeit

OTHER WORDS FOR forfeit

Origin of forfeit

OTHER WORDS FROM forfeit

Words related to forfeit

How to use forfeit in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for forfeit

Derived forms of forfeit

Word Origin for forfeit