forfeiture
Americannoun
-
something forfeited
-
the act of forfeiting or paying a penalty
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of forfeiture
1300–50; Middle English forfeiture, forfeture < Old French. See forfeit, -ure
Explanation
Forfeiture is having to give something up, usually as a punishment. If kindergartners yell and run around instead of sitting quietly at their desks, it might result in a forfeiture of recess that day. When you forfeit something, you lose or relinquish it as a penalty for doing something wrong. An instance of this happening is a forfeiture, and you can describe the thing you have to sacrifice as a forfeiture too. In law, a forfeiture is the loss of rights or goods due to not fulfilling some obligation. For example, failing to make car payments to a bank can result in the forfeiture of your car.
Vocabulary lists containing forfeiture
The Constitution of the United States
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Stamp Act (1765)
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The Merchant of Venice
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Yet as Mr. Brady notes, pension forfeiture remains “limited to a set of offenses related to bribery, fraud, and obstruction of justice,” which still allows for a range of “serious misconduct.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026
Since their convictions last year, the Justice Department has pursued forfeiture actions against both men, seeking almost $15.6 million from Gentile and about $12 million from Schneider.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025
Under those terms, Gentile may not have to pay $15 million that federal prosecutors are seeking in forfeiture.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2025
Others who did not respond to accept the offer said they were then threatened with forfeiture of their lease and pursued for breaches such as building loft conversions or extensions.
From BBC • Dec. 17, 2025
In 2000, Congress passed the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act, which was meant to address many of the egregious examples of abuse of civil forfeiture.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
