penalties

Variant of penalty

penalty definition

pen·alty (pen′əl tē)

noun pl. penalties -·ties

  1. a punishment fixed by law, as for a crime or breach of contract
  2. the disadvantage, suffering, handicap, etc. imposed upon an offender or one who does not fulfill a contract or obligation, as a fine or forfeit; specif., a forfeit paid for withdrawal before maturity of invested funds
  3. any unfortunate consequence or result of an act or condition
  4. Sports any disadvantage, as a loss of yardage or the removal of a player, imposed because of infraction of a rule

Etymology: LME penalyte < ML poenalitas < L poenalis: see penal

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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