penalty
Americannoun
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a punishment imposed or incurred for a violation of law or rule.
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a loss, forfeiture, suffering, or the like, to which one subjects oneself by nonfulfillment of some obligation.
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something that is forfeited, as a sum of money.
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a disadvantage imposed upon one of the competitors or upon one side for infraction of the rules of a game, sport, etc.
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consequence or disadvantage attached to any action, condition, etc.
noun
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a legal or official punishment, such as a term of imprisonment
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some other form of punishment, such as a fine or forfeit for not fulfilling a contract
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loss, suffering, or other unfortunate result of one's own action, error, etc
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sport games a handicap awarded against a player or team for illegal play, such as a free shot at goal by the opposing team, loss of points, etc
Etymology
Origin of penalty
Explanation
A penalty is a punishment or consequence for doing something wrong, such as having to pay a fee for not bringing your library book back when it was due. In hockey, players who break the rules have to sit in "the penalty box." Just like the penalty box punishes hockey players, all penalties are punishments for doing something wrong. Going to prison is the penalty for serious crimes. Detention is the penalty for misbehaving in school. Often, penalty applies to payments people have to make for breaking a financial contract of some kind.
Vocabulary lists containing penalty
Unit 1: Telling Details
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A Soccer and a Football Special
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Stamp Act (1765)
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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.
Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern break down the Broadview Six dismissal and the Supreme Court’s surprising punt in a major death penalty case.
From Slate • May 23, 2026
Now that you are over 59½, you can withdraw money from your retirement accounts without paying a penalty.
From MarketWatch • May 21, 2026
The penalty is the maximum for corporate manslaughter in France, and the combined total amounts to about $120 million.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026
The statement referenced several previous points deductions, including Luton Town's 30-point penalty in 2008-09 - the largest ever handed down and which ultimately cost them their place in the league.
From BBC • May 20, 2026
Several states were seriously debating ending the death penalty.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
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.
