forfeit

American  

[fawr-fit] / ˈfɔr fɪt /

noun

1. a fine; penalty.

2. an act of forfeiting; forfeiture.

3. something to which the right is lost, as for commission of a crime or misdeed, neglect of duty, or violation of a contract.

4. an article deposited in a game because of a mistake and redeemable by a fine or penalty.

5. (used with a singular verb) forfeits, a game in which such articles are taken from the players.

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verb (used with object)

1. to subject to seizure as a forfeit.

2. to lose or become liable to lose, as in consequence of crime, fault, or breach of engagement.

   Synonyms:

   waive, forgo, relinquish, yield, surrender, mulct

adjective

1. lost or subject to loss by forfeiture.

forfeit British  

/ ˈfɔːfɪt /

noun

1. something lost or given up as a penalty for a fault, mistake, etc

2. the act of losing or surrendering something in this manner

3. law something confiscated as a penalty for an offence, breach of contract, etc

4. (sometimes plural)

   1. a game in which a player has to give up an object, perform a specified action, etc, if he commits a fault

   2. an object so given up

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verb

1. (tr) to lose or be liable to lose in consequence of a mistake, fault, etc

2. (tr) law

   1. to confiscate as punishment

   2. to surrender (something exacted as a penalty)

adjective

1. surrendered or liable to be surrendered as a penalty

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unforfeiting
  adjective
• reforfeit
  verb (used with object)
• forfeiter
  noun
• unforfeitable
  adjective
• nonforfeitable
  adjective
• forfeitable
  adjective
• nonforfeiting
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of forfeit

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English forfet, from Old French (past participle of forfaire “to commit crime, to lose possession or right through a criminal act”), from Medieval Latin forīs factum “penalty,” past participle of forīs facere “to transgress,” equivalent to Latin forīs “outside, wrongly” + facere “to make, do”

Explanation

Forfeit means to lose or give up something, usually as a penalty. If you don’t finish your homework and eat all your broccoli, you'll most likely forfeit your right to watch TV before going to bed. An adjective, noun, and verb all rolled into one, forfeit came into existence around 1300 meaning “to lose by misconduct.” To forfeit is to lose or give up something as punishment for making an error. A forfeit is what is lost. You've probably heard of forfeiting a game or match — like when you don't show up with enough players or pick one too many fights with the opposing team.

Example Sentences

Some are questioning whether the news is a hoax or a forfeit for Arsenal fan KSI after the north London football club missed out on the Champions League title to Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

Subs are making $500 a day, but there are fewer subs than teachers and striking teachers forfeit pay.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

Former footballer Bullard didn't join in when the trial began, then said "I'm a celebrity get me out of here" to forfeit the challenge.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

You may also forfeit certain tax advantages — and the money you’d contribute to their accounts could instead go toward your own Roth IRA, giving you greater flexibility.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

Several players in the tournament had come down with the flu—including Bobby’s teacher, Jack Collins—and had to forfeit games.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Related Words

• abandon
• lose
• relinquish
• renounce
• surrender