penalty

noun
UK: /ˈpen.əl.ti/
US: /ˈpen.əl.ti/

  1. A punishment for breaking a rule or law.

    1. The penalty for speeding is a fine of $100 [ ] [ ]
    2. He faced a severe penalty for his involvement in the crime, which included a prison sentence [ ] [ ]

  2. In sports, a disadvantage or punishment given to a team or player for breaking a rule.

    1. Our team got a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct [ ] [ ]
    2. The referee awarded a penalty against the team for a foul committed inside the area [ ] [ ]

  3. A disadvantage or negative consequence.

    1. There's a penalty for withdrawing money early [ ] [ ]
    2. Companies face penalties if they don't comply with environmental regulations [ ] [ ]

Synonyms

handicap fine disadvantage sanction punishment
penalty transitive-verb

  1. To inflict a punishment on someone for breaking a rule or law.

    1. The referee penalized the player for holding [ ] [ ]
    2. The company was penalized heavily for polluting the river near the town [ ] [ ]

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "penalty" in English means: A punishment for breaking a rule or law., In sports, a disadvantage or punishment given to a team or player for breaking a rule., A disadvantage or negative consequence..

The phonetic transcription of "penalty" is /ˈpen.əl.ti/ in British English and /ˈpen.əl.ti/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "penalty": handicap, fine, disadvantage, sanction, punishment.

Example usage of "penalty": "The penalty for speeding is a fine of $100". More examples on the page.