penalty

noun

USPEN-uhl-tee/ˈpɛnəlti/

6 meanings of penalty

1
nouncountable
A punishment you get for breaking the rules about how something must be done.
The team got a penalty for sending in their paperwork after the deadline.
If you skip a step in the contest, the judges can give you a penalty.
Similarfine, sanction, punishment
Note
2
nouncountable
In sports, a punishment for breaking a rule, often making a player sit out for a set time.
He got a two-minute penalty for tripping another player.
Her team had to play with one less skater during the penalty.
Similarinfraction, foul
Note
3
nouncountable
In soccer, a free kick at the goal from a special spot, given after a foul near the goal.
The referee gave our team a penalty when a defender pushed our striker near the goal.
She scored the winning goal from a penalty in the last minute.
Similarspot-kick
Note
4
nouncountable
A bad result that follows from something you did or that happened before.
Like the stomachache you get after eating too much candy.
One penalty of staying up late is feeling tired all day.
He paid the penalty for skipping practice when he lost the race.
Similarprice, cost, consequence, downside, drawback
Oppositebenefit, advantage, reward
Note
5
nouncountable
A punishment that a court gives to someone who broke the law.
The penalty for stealing the car was two years in prison.
Drivers who text behind the wheel can face a heavy penalty.
Similarpunishment, sentence, sanction
Note
6
nouncountable
Money you must pay or give up because you took your savings out too early.
The bank charged a penalty when she closed the account before the end date.
He paid a penalty for taking money out of his retirement fund early.
Similarfee, charge, forfeit
Note

Practice

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Origin

It came from a Latin word 'poena', meaning punishment, which was borrowed from the Greek word 'poinḗ'.