forfeit
lose something as a penalty
To lose something because you did something wrong or did not follow a rule or agreement.
[someone] forfeits [something] (for [doing/not doing something])
- If you cancel the booking late, you will forfeit your deposit.
- He was caught cheating and had to forfeit his place in the competition.
- Drivers who drink and drive can forfeit their license.
- By missing the deadline, the company forfeited any right to appeal.
- They agreed to forfeit part of their salary if they broke the confidentiality agreement.
- If you break the rules, you may forfeit your prize.
- She will forfeit her ticket if she does not arrive on time.
- He forfeited his chance to win by leaving early.
- You will forfeit the money if you sign the wrong form.
- They forfeited their membership because they did not pay.
thing or right lost as penalty
Money, property, or a right that someone loses because they did not follow a rule or agreement.
a forfeit of [amount/thing]; pay a forfeit for [doing something]
- The contract states that late delivery will result in a forfeit of 10% of the fee.
- Anyone who withdraws after registration will face a small forfeit.
- He had to pay a hefty forfeit for breaking the terms of the lease.
- The court ordered the forfeit of all profits made from the illegal activity.
- They accepted the forfeit as the price of ending the dispute quickly.
- She paid a forfeit for breaking the rule.
- There is a forfeit of $50 if you are late.
- The forfeit was the money he had saved.
- He did not want to risk a forfeit of his holiday.
- The team accepted the forfeit without complaint.
lose a game by default
To lose a game or match because you broke the rules or did not play, not because the other team won in normal play.
[team/player] forfeits [the game/match/point]
- Their star player was injured, so the team decided to forfeit the match.
- If you arrive more than fifteen minutes late, you automatically forfeit the game.
- The referee warned that any further delay would cause them to forfeit the point.
- Because they used an ineligible player, the club had to forfeit the win.
- The opponents did not show up and were forced to forfeit.
- The team did not have enough players, so they forfeited the game.
- If you cheat, you may forfeit the match.
- They were late and had to forfeit the point.
- The club will forfeit the win if the rules were broken.
- Our side won because the other team forfeited.
taken or liable to be taken
Used about money, property, or rights that you lose, or can be made to lose, because you broke a rule or law.
forfeit [money/property/rights]
- The court ordered the sale of the forfeit assets.
- Any forfeit property will be transferred to the state.
- The forfeit funds will be used to compensate the victims.
- Under the agreement, forfeit shares may be resold by the company.
- He tried to recover the forfeit goods through an appeal.
- The bank took control of the forfeit property.
- The forfeit money went to the government.
- Police sold the forfeit cars at auction.
- The company could not use the forfeit assets.
- They argued about who owned the forfeit land.
playful penalty task in games
A fun or silly thing that a person must do because they lost a game or did not follow a game rule.
do a forfeit; give [someone] a forfeit
- Whoever drops the ball has to do a forfeit.
- She picked a forfeit that made him sing in front of everyone.
- The children giggled as they took turns choosing silly forfeits.
- In this game, the loser draws a card that tells them their forfeit.
- He agreed to the bet, knowing there would be a forfeit if he lost.
- If you lose, you must do a forfeit.
- The forfeit was to dance in the middle of the room.
- They wrote many funny forfeits on small papers.
- He laughed when he read his forfeit.
- In this game, there is a forfeit for the loser.
- Base: forfeit
- Base: forfeit
- Plural: forfeit, forfeits
- Base: forfeit
- 3rd Person Singular: forfeits
- Present Participle: forfeiting
- Past: forfeited
be forfeit to
1be legally taken as penalty
To become the property of the government or another authority because a law or rule was broken.
- Any assets used in the crime shall be forfeit to the state.
- Under the old law, the land was forfeit to the Crown.
forfeit a deposit
1lose a deposit as penalty
To lose the money you paid before (for example, for a room or service) because you canceled late or did not follow the agreement.
- Guests who cancel within 24 hours will forfeit their deposit.
- We decided to forfeit the deposit rather than sign a bad contract.
forfeit bail
1lose bail money as penalty
To lose the money paid to the court as bail because you did not follow the bail rules, for example by not coming to court.
- If the defendant fails to appear, she will forfeit bail.
- He skipped the hearing and ended up forfeiting his bail.
forfeit one's life
1lose one's life as punishment
To be killed as a punishment for something very serious, such as a crime.
- In earlier centuries, a thief might forfeit his life for stealing.
- He knew that if he was caught, he could forfeit his life.
forfeit the game
1lose the game by default
To lose the game because you did not follow the rules or did not play, not because the other team beat you in normal play.
- If they arrive more than twenty minutes late, they will forfeit the game.
- The team fielded an ineligible player and had to forfeit the game.
forfeit the right to
1lose a right as punishment
To no longer have a right because of what you did, often because you broke a rule or behaved very badly.
- By repeatedly lying, he forfeited the right to be trusted.
- People who drive drunk forfeit the right to hold a license.