penalty
penalty Lexical Profile
penalty Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A punishment or monetary charge imposed for breaking a law, rule, or contract.
"The company faced a severe financial penalty for violating environmental regulations."
A disadvantage, loss of points, or free shot at the goal awarded against a team or player for committing an infraction of the rules in a sport or game.
"The referee awarded a penalty in the final minute of the match after a foul inside the box."
An unpleasant consequence, disadvantage, or hardship suffered as the result of a particular action, choice, or condition.
"Chronic exhaustion is often the penalty of working excessively long hours."
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 15th century from Anglo-French penalte and Medieval Latin poenalitas, ultimately deriving from the Latin poena ('punishment, fine') and Ancient Greek poinē ('blood-money, fine').