forfeit

[ fawr-fit ]

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

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

/ 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

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

Derived Forms

• ˈforfeitable, adjective
• ˈforfeiter, noun

Other Words From

• for·feit·a·ble adjective
• for·feit·er noun
• non·for·feit·a·ble adjective
• non·for·feit·ing adjective
• re·for·feit verb (used with object)
• un·for·feit·a·ble adjective
• un·for·feit·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of forfeit¹

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”

Word History and Origins

Origin of forfeit¹

C13: from Old French forfet offence, from forfaire to commit a crime, from Medieval Latin foris facere to act outside (what is lawful), from Latin foris outside + facere to do

Example Sentences

It was not clear in the indictment what Puente and Marquez are accused of using those funds for, but if convicted the pair will be asked to forfeit all property bought with the stolen money.

From Los Angeles Times

Narbonne High, the football team that hasn’t played since Sept. 27 because four coaches in the Marine League decided to forfeit games against the Gauchos, has been awarded the No. 1 seed for the City Section Open Division playoffs that begin on Nov. 15.

From Los Angeles Times

The Telegraph alleges players were warned in August that they would forfeit their places at WXV2 in South Africa and next year’s Rugby World Cup if they did not sign, and followed it up with a three-hour deadline.

From BBC

The team was fined $5 million and forced to forfeit their first- and second-round picks for the 2020 and 2021 drafts.

From Los Angeles Times

There were no facilities provided for the tens of thousands of people standing in the street, no bathrooms and no place to get water except for a few restaurants on that block of 32nd street and stepping inside any of them would require you to forfeit your place in line.

From Salon

Related Words

• abandon
• lose
• relinquish
• renounce
• surrender