penalize

especially British, pe·nal·ise

[peen-l-ahyz, pen-]

verb (used with object)

penalized, penalizing 

1. to subject to a penalty, as a person.

2. to declare (an action, deed, etc.) punishable by law or rule.

3. to put under a disadvantage or handicap.

penalize

/ ˈpiːnəˌlaɪz /

verb

1. to impose a penalty on (someone), as for breaking a law or rule

2. to inflict a handicap or disadvantage on

3. sport to award a free stroke, point, or penalty against (a player or team)

4. to declare (an act) legally punishable; make subject to a penalty

Other Word Forms

• penalizable adjective
• penalization noun
• nonpenalized adjective
• overpenalization noun
• overpenalize verb (used with object)
• repenalize verb (used with object)
• unpenalized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of penalize¹

First recorded in 1865–70; penal + -ize

Example Sentences

It also forbade the use of federal funds for anything that discriminated against anyone, and authorized the federal government to enforce the integration of schools and penalize schools that didn’t comply.

Read more on Literature

He promises his constituents to protect Montana’s clean air, water, and pristine forests by canceling airport and real estate development funding and penalizing non-residents with additional taxation.

Read more on Salon

The president has implied that he will penalize the city if voters choose Mamdani.

Read more on BBC

It also penalizes companies whose business is more blue-collar or in services.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Unlike Europe, the U.S. frequently deploys secondary sanctions that penalize non-U.S. entities for dealings with sanctioned parties—effectively forcing compliance by threatening access to the U.S. financial system.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• castigate 
• chastise 
• discipline 
• fine