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penalty Definition

pen·alty (pen′əl tē)

noun pl. -·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

penalty Synonyms

penalty

n.

fine, sentence, discipline; see punishment.

penalty Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • impose: The rebel base also imposes a points penalty equal to double the campaign points value, which was 18 % in Kev's case.
  • incur: Ensure you do not incur penalties for delayed payments Once a Direct Debit mandate is signed payments are made automatically on your behalf.
  • concede: He managed to get away with only a yellow card but also conceded a penalty.
  • miss: Matt Vaughan failed to convert having missed a penalty also, hitting the post 7 minutes earlier.

Adjective modifier

  • fixed: Can I be dealt with by fixed penalty without having to go to court?
  • maximum: The maximum penalty for the sale of such goods is 6 months in prison or £ 5000.
  • stiff: Dealers who sell drugs near schools or use children as couriers could face stiffer penalties.
  • severe: The importance of the regime The law imposes very severe penalties on anyone involved in money laundering.
  • harsh: People who have a problem with alcohol, alcoholics, cannot be swayed by stricter laws, harsher penalties or spates in jail.

Modifies a noun

  • shootout: I returned to the bar to watch our World Cup hopes disappear down the toilet in a lackluster penalty shootout.
  • taker: Jens Lehmann had every Argentine penalty taker written down on a piece of paper, along with notes on their penalty style.
  • kick: In a close 1st half Tranent went ahead through a penalty kick which looked to have occurred well outside the box.
  • notice: Nearly 7,000 people a day failed to pay the charge, which began on 17 February, with 34,000 penalty notices being sent out.
  • spot: Earlier in the game Robbie Blake had missed from the penalty spot.

Noun used with modifier

  • redemption: The latter has no redemption penalties at any time.
  • death: I think I believe in the death penalty - I do not know.
  • filing: In previous years a concession has allowed a seven day period of grace before a late filing penalty is charged.

Preposition: of

imprisonment: Despite its recent reclassification, illegal possession of cannabis still carries a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment.

Preposition: for

  • non-compliance: Penalties for non-compliance will treat complete and marginal failure the same.
  • contravention: The penalty for any other such contravention is a fine not exceeding £ 2,500 on summary conviction.