penalty

American  

[pen-l-tee] / ˈpɛn l ti /

noun

• penalties
  plural

1. a punishment imposed or incurred for a violation of law or rule.

2. a loss, forfeiture, suffering, or the like, to which one subjects oneself by nonfulfillment of some obligation.

3. something that is forfeited, as a sum of money.

4. a disadvantage imposed upon one of the competitors or upon one side for infraction of the rules of a game, sport, etc.

5. consequence or disadvantage attached to any action, condition, etc.

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penalty British  

/ ˈpɛnəltɪ /

noun

1. a legal or official punishment, such as a term of imprisonment

2. some other form of punishment, such as a fine or forfeit for not fulfilling a contract

3. loss, suffering, or other unfortunate result of one's own action, error, etc

4. 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

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• penalties
  plural

Etymology

Origin of penalty

1505–15; ≪ Medieval Latin poenālitās. See penal, -ty ²

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

penalty penalties

Walter Bagehot, the 19th-century editor of the Economist magazine, summed up the role of the central bank as being to lend to banks freely, against good collateral, at a penalty rate.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026

For immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally, leaving the country or being deported triggers a penalty — many are banned from coming back into the U.S. for a decade.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

Thiago has the profile of a forward who can deliver in bursts, particularly against weaker opposition, and Brentford are likely to continue looking for him regularly inside the penalty area.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

Garnett had previously tossed two additional federal charges, taking the prospect of the death penalty off the table.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

In 2002, there were about a hundred people with mental retardation facing execution when the Court banned the death penalty for people with intellectual disability.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson

The SEC can seek civil monetary penalties and the return of illegal profits, and bar or suspend an individual from serving as a corporate officer or director, among other remedies.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026

Since the protests, authorities have attempted to appease the nation's youth, with the parliament hiking penalties for leaking exam papers.

From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026

With penalties too, it is clear to see why he is dominating the budget forward category.

From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026

The Justice Department will file two felony charges against Melissa Farris, which carry penalties of up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

I cracked up a few times and got hit with score penalties for it.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline

Related Words

• cost
• discipline
• fine
• forfeiture
• punishment