What does "forfeit" mean?
A penalty for or consequence of a misdemeanor.
Forfeit
/ˈfɔː.fɪt/ adj, noun, verb
adj, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A penalty for or consequence of a misdemeanor.
- Grammar: forfeit is listed as adj, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: forfeiture, amercement, automatic loss, be bereaved of.
- Useful contrasts: certain benefit, dutch bezitten, secure.
- Usage evidence: His health was the forfeit of heavy drinking.
How to use "forfeit"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "forfeit" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "forfeit" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "forfeit" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "forfeit" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "forfeit" is acting as adj, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "forfeiture" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "forfeit", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A penalty for or consequence of a misdemeanor. countable, uncountable
"That he our deadly forfeit should release"
- 2 the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc. wordnet
- 3 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. countable, uncountable
"He who murders pays the forfeit of his own life."
- 4 a penalty for a fault or mistake that involves losing or giving up something wordnet
- 5 Something deposited and redeemable by a sportive fine as part of a game. countable, uncountable
"Country dances and forfeits shortened the rest of the day."
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 something that is lost or surrendered as a penalty wordnet
- 7 Injury; wrong; mischief. countable, obsolete, rare, uncountable
"a. 1789, Barry St. Leger, Siege of Nicopolis to seek arms upon people and country that never did us any forfeit"
Verb
- 1 To suffer the loss of something by wrongdoing or non-compliance
"He forfeited his last chance of an early release from jail by repeatedly attacking another inmate."
- 2 lose (something) or lose the right to (something) by some error, offense, or crime wordnet
- 3 To lose a contest, game, match, or other form of competition by voluntary withdrawal, by failing to attend or participate, or by violation of the rules
"Because only nine players were present, the football team was forced to forfeit the game."
- 4 To be guilty of a misdeed; to be criminal; to transgress.
- 5 To fail to keep an obligation.
"I will have the heart of him if he forfeit."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 Of government officials: to legally remove property from its previous owners.
"After the raid on USPV, Plaintiffs filed claims with the FBI seeking return of their seized property. The government did not return the property in response to these claims; instead, it indicated that it was seeking to forfeit the property."
Adjective
- 1 Lost or alienated for an offense or crime; liable to penal seizure. not-comparable
"to tread the forfeit paradise"
Adjective
- 1 surrendered as a penalty wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"His health was the forfeit of heavy drinking."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "forfeit"?
Common synonyms include: forfeiture, amercement, automatic loss, be bereaved of, bereavement, caution.
How do you use "forfeit" in a sentence?
His health was the forfeit of heavy drinking.
How do you pronounce "forfeit"?
Pronounced /ˈfɔː.fɪt/.
Etymology
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.