A penalty is a punishment that someone is given for doing something which is against a law or rule.
One of those arrested could face the death penalty.
The maximum penalty is up to 7 years' imprisonment or an unlimited fine.
Synonyms: punishment, price, fine, handicap More Synonyms of penalty
2. countable noun
In sports such as football and hockey, a penalty is an opportunity to score a goal, which is given to the attacking team if the defending team breaks a rule near their own goal.
Referee Michael Reed had no hesitation in awarding a penalty.
The team's captain scored a penalty goal.
3. countable noun
Thepenalty that you pay for something you have done is something unpleasant that you experience as a result.
Why should I pay the penalty for somebody else's mistake? [+ for]
More Synonyms of penalty
penalty in British English
(ˈpɛnəltɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-ties
1.
a legal or official punishment, such as a term of imprisonment
2.
some other form of punishment, such as a fine or forfeit for not fulfilling a contract
3.
loss, suffering, or other unfortunate result of one's own action, error, etc
4. sport, games
a handicap awarded against a player or team for illegal play, such as a free shot at goal by the opposing team, loss of points, etc
Word origin
C16: from Medieval Latin poenālitās penalty; see penal
penalty in American English
(ˈpɛnəlti)
nounWord forms: pluralˈpenalties
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. Sport
any disadvantage, as a loss of yardage or the removal of a player, imposed because of infraction of a rule
Word origin
LME penalyte < ML poenalitas < L poenalis: see penal
COBUILD Collocations
penalty
criminal penalty
harsh penalty
hefty penalty
maximum penalty
tough penalty
Examples of 'penalty' in a sentence
penalty
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
He faces the death penalty if convicted.
The Sun (2017)
They are phenomenal players with lots of penalties to score goals.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Let him pay the penalty and get on with it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is also important to score goals other than penalties.
The Sun (2016)
Toulon were awarded one more penalty close to the Saracens line.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Nobody can make the argument that the death penalty isn't a deterrent.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But campaigners say proposals to increase the penalty by one point and 50 are not enough.
The Sun (2016)
Why would you sit up there in the moral high ground if you could get your team a penalty by coming down a bit?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Failure to do so can result in six penalty points, but this can be less than the penalty for driving without insurance.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The increasingly long interest-free periods mean that it is easy to lose focus on repaying your debt and then have to pay heavy penalties.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
My goal is to work myself out of a job by helping to end the death penalty.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The onus will be on you to get it right or you will pay a penalty.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
What will be the penalty for a team that exceeds the cost cap?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
It is also penalty free and there are no upfront fees.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
One of the penalties for that hard folding roof is weight.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Gangs would escape fines or penalties if they paid the police.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Is this not a reason for bringing back the death penalty?
The Sun (2010)
What happened to teams who missed penalties?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He wins free kicks and penalties and makes the odd enemy for it.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He could face the death penalty if convicted.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Another team concedes a penalty in the last minute.
The Sun (2013)
Ministers are subject to substantial penalties in the form of excise taxes if they are paid excessive compensation.
Christianity Today (2000)
They paid the penalty for the error and that goal would have hurt so much on the stroke of halftime.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We are no longer shocked when a footballer goes down under a challenge to win a free kick or penalty.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Where other than banking could you pay a 800,000 penalty and still claim you won?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Police made another five arrests and issued a series of 80 fixed penalty fines.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They then asserted themselves and forced Exeter into errors and a penalty count that cost them dear.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Driving while using a handheld mobile is punishable with a 100 fine and three penalty points.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
There is a minimum deposit of 1,000 and money can be withdrawn after two years without penalty or loss of interest.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
One penalty can't change that.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
One penalty miss stood between them and the European Cup.
The Sun (2008)
TITLE favourites Oxford opened their Conference account with a lucky penalty and wonder goal.
The Sun (2006)
Word lists with
penalty
rugby
In other languages
penalty
British English: penalty /ˈpɛnltɪ/ NOUN
A penalty is a punishment for doing something which is against a law or rule.
The maximum penalty is seven years in prison.
American English: penalty
Arabic: عُقُوبَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: pena punição
Chinese: 处罚
Croatian: kazna
Czech: trest soudní
Danish: straf
Dutch: boete
European Spanish: castigo pena
Finnish: rangaistus
French: pénalité nf
German: Strafe
Greek: ποινή
Italian: multa
Japanese: 刑罰
Korean: 처벌
Norwegian: straff
Polish: kara
European Portuguese: pena punição
Romanian: pedeapsă
Russian: наказание
Latin American Spanish: castigo
Swedish: straff
Thai: โทษทัณฑ์ทางกฎหมาย
Turkish: ceza
Ukrainian: кара
Vietnamese: hình phạt
Translate your text for free
All related terms of 'penalty'
penalty box
In football , the penalty box is the same as the → penalty area .
death penalty
The death penalty is the punishment of death used in some countries for people who have committed very serious crimes .
harsh penalty
A penalty is a punishment that someone is given for doing something which is against a law or rule.
hefty penalty
A penalty is a punishment that someone is given for doing something which is against a law or rule.
penalty area
In football , the penalty area is the rectangular area in front of the goal. Inside this area the goalkeeper is allowed to handle the ball, and if the defending team breaks a rule here, the opposing team gets a penalty.
penalty goal
a goal scored as a result of a penalty
penalty kick
a free kick at the goal from a point ( penalty spot ) within the penalty area and 12 yards (about 11 m ) from the goal, with only the goalkeeper allowed to defend it: awarded to the attacking team after a foul within the penalty area by a member of the defending team
penalty point
an endorsement on a driving licence due to a motoring offence
penalty rates
rates of pay, such as double time, paid to employees working outside normal working hours
penalty shot
a free shot at the goal awarded to a team after the other team has broken a rule
penalty spot
a point within the penalty area and 12 yards (about 11 m) from the goal , from which a penalty kick may be taken
tough penalty
A penalty is a punishment that someone is given for doing something which is against a law or rule.
maximum penalty
A penalty is a punishment that someone is given for doing something which is against a law or rule.
penalty clause
a provision in a contract providing for a form of punishment , such as a fine or forfeit for not fulfilling the contract
penalty corner
a free hit from the goal line taken by the attacking side
penalty killer
a good player who, when his or her team is short-handed because of a penalty , is sent onto the ice to prevent the other side from scoring
penalty stroke
a stroke added to a score for a rule infraction
criminal penalty
A penalty is a punishment that someone is given for doing something which is against a law or rule.
penalty shoot-out
In football , a penalty shoot-out is a way of deciding the result of a game that has ended in a draw. Players from each team try to score a goal in turn until one player fails to score and their team loses the game.
the death penalty
capital punishment
fixed penalty (fine)
a fine of a fixed amount of money for a particular offence
spot kick
a free kick at the goal from a point ( penalty spot ) within the penalty area and 12 yards (about 11 m) from the goal, with only the goalkeeper allowed to defend it: awarded to the attacking team after a foul within the penalty area by a member of the defending team
short corner
a free hit from the goal line taken by the attacking side
Chinese translation of 'penalty'
penalty
(ˈpɛnltɪ)
n(c)
(= punishment, fine) 处(處)罚(罰) (chǔfá) (次, cì)
(Football, Rugby) 罚(罰)球 (fáqiú) (个(個), gè)
1 (noun)
Definition
a legal punishment for a crime or offence
The maximum penalty is 7 years' imprisonment.
Synonyms
punishment
The usual punishment is a fine.
price
He's paying the price for pushing his body so hard.
fine
If convicted he faces a fine of one million dollars.
handicap
I see your handicap is down from 16 to 12.
forfeit
That is the forfeit he must pay.
retribution
He decided to get his retribution in first.
forfeiture
mulct
2 (noun)
Definition
loss or suffering as a result of one's own action
Synonyms
disadvantage
They suffer the disadvantage of having been political exiles.
difficulty
The main difficulty has been getting enough students to try out the scheme.
handicap
Being a foreigner was not a handicap.
drawback
The only drawback was that the apartment was too small.
snag
A police crackdown hit a snag when villains stole one of their cars.
uphill (South Africa)
This job has been a real uphill.
downside
There is a downside to this.
unpleasant aspect
Additional synonyms
in the sense of difficulty
Definition
an objection or obstacle
The main difficulty has been getting enough students to try out the scheme.
Synonyms
problem,
trouble,
obstacle,
hurdle,
dilemma,
hazard,
complication,
hassle (informal),
snag,
uphill (South Africa),
predicament,
pitfall,
stumbling block,
impediment,
hindrance,
tribulation,
quandary,
can of worms (informal),
point at issue,
disputed point
in the sense of downside
Definition
the disadvantageous aspect of a situation
There is a downside to this.
Synonyms
drawback,
disadvantage,
snag,
problem,
trouble,
minus (informal),
flip side,
other side of the coin (informal),
bad or weak point
in the sense of drawback
Definition
a disadvantage or hindrance
The only drawback was that the apartment was too small.
Synonyms
disadvantage,
trouble,
difficulty,
fault,
handicap,
obstacle,
defect,
deficiency,
flaw,
hitch,
nuisance,
snag,
downside,
stumbling block,
impediment,
detriment,
imperfection,
hindrance,
fly in the ointment (informal)
Synonyms of 'penalty'
penalty
Explore 'penalty' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of fine
Definition
a payment imposed as a penalty
If convicted he faces a fine of one million dollars.
Synonyms
penalty,
damages,
punishment,
forfeit,
financial penalty,
amercement (obsolete)
in the sense of forfeit
Definition
something lost or given up as a penalty for a fault, mistake, etc.
That is the forfeit he must pay.
Synonyms
penalty,
fine,
damages,
forfeiture,
loss,
mulct,
amercement (obsolete)
in the sense of handicap
Definition
the advantage or disadvantage given
I see your handicap is down from 16 to 12.
Synonyms
advantage,
penalty,
head start
in the sense of handicap
Definition
something that makes progress difficult
Being a foreigner was not a handicap.
Synonyms
disadvantage,
block,
barrier,
restriction,
obstacle,
limitation,
hazard,
drawback,
shortcoming,
stumbling block,
impediment,
albatross,
hindrance,
millstone,
encumbrance
in the sense of price
Definition
the cost at which something is obtained
He's paying the price for pushing his body so hard.
Synonyms
consequences,
penalty,
cost,
result,
sacrifice,
toll,
forfeit
in the sense of retribution
Definition
punishment or vengeance for evil deeds
He decided to get his retribution in first.
Synonyms
punishment,
retaliation,
reprisal,
redress,
justice,
reward,
reckoning,
compensation,
satisfaction,
revenge,
repayment,
vengeance,
Nemesis,
recompense,
an eye for an eye,
requital
in the sense of snag
Definition
a small problem or difficulty
A police crackdown hit a snag when villains stole one of their cars.