forfeit

CEFRC1

/ˈfɔː.fɪt/

verb · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    To lose something because of a rule or mistake.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    A thing forfeited; that which is taken from somebody in requital of a misdeed committed; that which is lost, or the right to which is alienated, by a crime, breach of contract, etc.

Examples

  • His health was the forfeit of heavy drinking.

  • The team had to forfeit the match due to lack of players.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5
Synonyms
4

Also pronounced

  • /ˈfɔrfət/

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings

  1. Something deposited and redeemable by a sportive fine as part of a game.

  2. To suffer the loss of something by wrongdoing or non-compliance

noun

Extra meaning

  1. A penalty for or consequence of a misdemeanor.

More examples

In context

  • He forfeited his last chance of an early release from jail by repeatedly attacking another inmate.

  • He who murders pays the forfeit of his own life.

  • a. 1789, Barry St. Leger, Siege of Nicopolis to seek arms upon people and country that never did us any forfeit

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

If you break the rules, you will blank your right to play.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

verb

From Middle English forfait from ca. 1300, from Old French forfait (“crime”), originally the past participle of forfaire (“to transgress”), and Medieval Latin foris factum. During the 15th century, the sense shifted from the crime to the penalty for the crime.