FORFEIT Definition & Meaning

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forfeit

[ fawr-fit ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a fine; penalty.
an act of forfeiting; forfeiture.
something to which the right is lost, as for commission of a crime or misdeed, neglect of duty, or violation of a contract.
an article deposited in a game because of a mistake and redeemable by a fine or penalty.
forfeits, (used with a singular verb) a game in which such articles are taken from the players.

verb (used with object)

to subject to seizure as a forfeit.
to lose or become liable to lose, as in consequence of crime, fault, or breach of engagement.
Synonyms: , , , , ,

adjective

lost or subject to loss by forfeiture.

forfeit

/ ˈ��ɔː��ɪ�� /

noun

something lost or given up as a penalty for a fault, mistake, etc
the act of losing or surrendering something in this manner
law something confiscated as a penalty for an offence, breach of contract, etc
sometimes plural
1. a game in which a player has to give up an object, perform a specified action, etc, if he commits a fault
2. an object so given up

verb

tr to lose or be liable to lose in consequence of a mistake, fault, etc
tr law
1. to confiscate as punishment
2. to surrender (something exacted as a penalty)

adjective

surrendered or liable to be surrendered as a penalty

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Derived Forms

ˈ�ڴǰ��ڱ𾱳ٲ��, adjective
ˈ�ڴǰ��ڱ𾱳ٱ��, noun

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Other 51�Թ� Forms

�ڴǰ�·�ڱ𾱳�·��·�� adjective
�ڴǰ�·�ڱ𾱳�·�� noun
non·�ڴǰ�·�ڱ𾱳�·��·�� adjective
�Դǲ�·�ڴǰ�·�ڱ𾱳�·��Բ� adjective
��·�ڴǰ�·�ڱ𾱳� verb (used with object)
un·�ڴǰ�·�ڱ𾱳�·��·�� adjective
�ܲ�·�ڴǰ�·�ڱ𾱳�·��Բ� adjective

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of forfeit¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English forfet, from Old French (past participle of forfaire “to commit crime, to lose possession or right through a criminal act”), from Medieval Latin �ڴǰ�ī�� factum “penalty,” past participle of �ڴǰ�ī�� facere “to transgress,” equivalent to Latin �ڴǰ�ī�� “outside, wrongly” + facere “to make, do”

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of forfeit¹

C13: from Old French forfet offence, from forfaire to commit a crime, from Medieval Latin foris facere to act outside (what is lawful), from Latin foris outside + facere to do

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"Why would any U.S. administration choose to forfeit this vital strategic edge?"

From

His father says the 980-seat theatre will forfeit the tournament unless central government or Sheffield City Council, with whom he has a meeting planned next week, step up their commitment.

From

Those funds will be stocked with coins forfeited to the federal government as part of criminal or civil proceedings.

From

The school, which also had problems with forfeits in other sports, hired a new football coach in Doug Bledsoe, who has vowed to rebuild the program.

From

Writing in the Observer, Miliband warned that an anti-net zero agenda would not only risk "climate breakdown" but "forfeit the clean energy jobs of the future".

From

Related 51�Թ�s

for fear of forfeited

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