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

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

Example Sentences

AIG is paying him $2.7 million under a “mutual agreement” that he forfeit a coveted role as its heir apparent, according to securities filings.

From The Wall Street Journal

It’s been a long road back for Hawkins after the program hit rock bottom in 2017 with forfeits, the firing of the coaching staff and an exodus of players.

From Los Angeles Times

No sovereign nation can be asked to forfeit the military forces it deems necessary to defend itself.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Islamist cadre are too invested in the revolution that he molded to forfeit their inheritance.

From The Wall Street Journal

The Patriots lost to Narbonne in the semifinals in 2018 and again last season, but the Gauchos forfeited both victories for using ineligible players.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abandon
• lose
• relinquish
• renounce
• surrender