penalty box

American  

[pen-l-tee boks] / ˈpɛn l ti ˌbɒks /

noun

1. Ice Hockey. an enclosed space adjacent to the rink for penalized players, the penalty timekeeper, the game timekeeper, and the official scorer.

   Prior to 1963, there was only one penalty box in each of the six NHL arenas.

2. a temporary punishment: When we send our son to the penalty box, he knows to go straight to his room.

   I can’t go because I’ve been sent to the penalty box for missing another curfew.

   When we send our son to the penalty box, he knows to go straight to his room.

3. a chastisement or humiliation.

   If you dare voice an opposing opinion at these meetings, you end up in the penalty box.

---

penalty box British  

noun

1. soccer another name for penalty area

2. ice hockey a bench for players serving time penalties

---

Etymology

Origin of penalty box

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

penalty box

Salah was in the penalty box, so the VAR is assessing a potential penalty - which has a higher threshold to a foul.

From BBC ● Jul. 7, 2026

NextEra’s shares could be stuck in the penalty box for a while longer, with regulatory approvals—across Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina—expected to take 12 to 18 months.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 10, 2026

The Kings’ Alex Laferriere and Slafkovsky traded third-period goals, with Slafkovky scoring 31 seconds after Trevor Moore went to the penalty box for slashing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 8, 2026

However, for Salesforce, the record share buyback might not be enough to get the stock out of the software penalty box.

From MarketWatch ● Feb. 26, 2026

The Lightning would have their chance to tie in the final moments, when Hamdu Muganga, now on defense for the Fugees, was called for a foul at the top of the penalty box.

From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John