penalty

[ pen-l-tee ]

noun

, plural pen·al·ties.

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.

penalty

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of penalty¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of penalty¹

C16: from Medieval Latin poenālitās penalty; see penal

Example Sentences

The CPUC also did not pursue cases against bankrupt companies, nor did it pursue punitive actions like revoking utilities’ permits or charging interest and penalties.

From ProPublica

Patrick Mahomes looked human for the first time in a very long time, although some of Kansas City’s problems came down to bad luck and unnecessary penalties.

From FiveThirtyEight

The manual actions warrant penalties for content violations including adult content, manipulated media, misleading content, and profanity.

From Search Engine Land

The two appeared to get their feet tangled and both went down, but Breeland was flagged for pass interference, a 34-yard penalty that gave Tampa Bay a first down at the Chiefs’ 24-yard line.

From Washington Post

Manual actions are when Google human reviewers apply a penalty to a website or webpages after it has come to Google’s attention that something was done that was not in accordance with Google’s posted webmaster guidelines.

From Search Engine Land

The only great thing he did as governor was to insist that the death penalty was just wrong.

From The Daily Beast

He rebuffed calls to institute the death penalty, and his last term as governor ended in his defeat.

From The Daily Beast

Last summer, Louisiana also banned non-legal adoption, with offenders facing a penalty of $5,000 and up to five years in prison.

From The Daily Beast

Tax evasion carries a maximum penalty of five years, and thus it seems likely that Grimm would be covered by the provision.

From The Daily Beast

The penalty is only rarely imposed, as members often resign before they can be voted out of Congress.

From The Daily Beast

But a little earlier still, to be an Infidel was to be an outlaw, subject to the penalty of death.

From Project Gutenberg

By the old law a drunken man who made a contract was still liable, and required to fulfill as a penalty for his conduct.

From Project Gutenberg

My man in the market has orders to send me Old Inn chickens and eggs, on penalty of losing my custom.

From Project Gutenberg

I don't care, so long as she ain't allowed to do as she pleases and no questions asked and no penalty paid.

From Project Gutenberg

It visited an offence with a penalty of which the offender, at the time when he offended, had no notice.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cost
• discipline
• fine
• forfeiture
• punishment