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forfeit

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To forfeit is to give something up or have something taken away, often as a penalty for doing something wrong or in order to make something else possible.

(verb)

An example of forefeit is when you lose your driver's license because you got too many tickets.
An example of forfeit is when you give up your day off to make more money.

See forfeit in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

something that one loses or has to give up because of some crime, fault, or neglect of duty; specif., a fine or penalty
1. a thing taken away as a penalty for making some mistake in a game, and redeemable by a specified action
2. any game in which such forfeits are taken
the act of forfeiting; forfeiture

Origin: ME forfet < OFr forfait, pp. of forfaire, to transgress < ML forisfacere, to do wrong, lit., to do beyond < L foris, foras, out-of-doors, beyond (see foreign) + facere (see fact)

adjective

lost, given up, or taken away as a forfeit

transitive verb

to lose, give up, or be deprived of as a forfeit for some crime, fault, etc.

Related Forms:

forfeitable adjective
forfeiter noun

See forfeit in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Something surrendered or subject to surrender as punishment for a crime, an offense, an error, or a breach of contract.
Games
a. Something placed in escrow and then redeemed after payment of a fine.
b. forfeits A game in which forfeits are demanded.
A forfeiture.

adjective

Lost or subject to loss through forfeiture.

transitive verb for·feit·ed, for·feit·ing, for·feits

To surrender, be deprived of, or give up the right to on account of a crime, an offense, an error, or a breach of contract.
To subject to seizure as a forfeit.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English forfet, crime, penalty

Origin: , from Old French forfait

Origin: , past participle of forfaire, to commit a crime, act outside the law

Origin: : fors-, beyond; see foreclose

Origin: + faire, to do; see feasible

Related Forms: