penalize

American  

[peen-l-ahyz, pen-] / ˈpin lˌaɪz, ˈpɛn- /

especially British, penalise

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.

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penalize British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of penalize

First recorded in 1865–70; penal + -ize

Example Sentences

If they violate their trade pacts, Washington could also further penalize them under well-established laws.

From Barron's • Feb. 26, 2026

Federal and state agencies also must be empowered with the resources to penalize bait-and-switch tactics swiftly.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 13, 2026

A new border tax will penalize imports based on their carbon footprint, but it isn’t clear how exactly that will work in this complicated supply chain, said Matthew Thoelke of Chemical Market Analytics.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026

Scrabeck said she’s made agreements with students with long commutes and doesn’t penalize them for tardiness.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2025

“I own the original patent for making patent leather, ” Fletcher said in a patent lie. penalize.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

Related Words

• castigate
• chastise
• discipline
• fine