forfeit
gb/fˈɔɹfɪt/ us/fˈɔɹfɪt/
B2
English
~ 9700
elveszít, elesik valamitől, pénzbüntetés, kötbér, felad, játék nélkül elveszít, elkobzott, büntetőfeladat
VERB
B2
1
elveszít
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] forfeits [something] (for [doing/not doing something])
If you cancel the booking late, you will forfeit your deposit.
Ha későn mondod le a foglalást, elveszíted a foglalót.
He was caught cheating and had to forfeit his place in the competition.
Rajtakapták csaláson, ezért elveszítette az indulási jogát a versenyen.
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.
Learner examples
If you break the rules, you may forfeit your prize.
Ha megszeged a szabályokat, elveszítheted a nyereményedet.
She will forfeit her ticket if she does not arrive on time.
Ha nem érkezik meg időben, a jegye érvényét veszti.
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.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'forfeit' to mean any kind of loss. 'Forfeit' is usually used when the loss is a punishment or is written in rules or a contract. For a simple, neutral loss (for example, losing a pen), 'lose' is more natural.
Meaning
lose something as a penalty
Collocations
forfeit your deposit
|forfeit the right to
|forfeit your license
|forfeit a claim
|forfeit privileges
|automatically forfeit
Synonyms
lose (General word; does not always imply a rule or penalty, while 'forfeit' usually does.)
|
surrender (Often suggests a more voluntary giving up, whereas 'forfeit' can be automatic under rules.)
|
give up (More informal and broader; may be voluntary, not specifically a punishment.)
Antonyms
keep (You keep something when you do not lose it as a penalty.)
|
retain (More formal; means to continue to have a right or possession instead of losing it.)
Themes
law
|business
|sports
|daily_life
|finance
Definition
To lose something because you did something wrong or did not follow a rule or agreement.
To lose or be deprived of something, especially money, rights, or property, as a penalty for breaking a rule or failing to meet a condition.
NOUN
B2
2
pénzbüntetés
B2
kötbér
B2
Usage pattern:
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.
A szerződés szerint késedelmes szállítás esetén a díj 10%-ának megfelelő pénzbüntetést kell fizetni.
Anyone who withdraws after registration will face a small forfeit.
Aki a regisztráció után visszalép, kisebb pénzbüntetésre számíthat.
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.
Learner examples
She paid a forfeit for breaking the rule.
Pénzbüntetést fizetett a szabály megszegéséért.
There is a forfeit of $50 if you are late.
Ha elkésel, 50 dollár pénzbüntetést kell fizetned.
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.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'forfeit' with 'fee'. A 'fee' is a normal payment (for example, a service fee), but a 'forfeit' is something you pay or lose as a punishment or because you broke a rule.
Meaning
thing or right lost as penalty
Collocations
a forfeit of $500
|pay a forfeit
|face a forfeit
|incur a forfeit
|financial forfeit
|legal forfeit
Synonyms
penalty (Broader; can be any punishment, not just something you lose or give up.)
|
fine (Usually refers specifically to a sum of money, while a forfeit can be money, rights, or property.)
Antonyms
reward (A positive outcome or benefit, as opposed to something lost as punishment.)
Themes
law
|business
|sports
|finance
Definition
Money, property, or a right that someone loses because they did not follow a rule or agreement.
Something, especially money, a right, or property, that is lost or must be given up as a penalty for breaking a rule or failing a condition.
VERB
B2
3
felad
B1
Usage pattern:
[team/player] forfeits [the game/match/point]
Their star player was injured, so the team decided to forfeit the match.
A sztárjátékosuk megsérült, ezért a csapat úgy döntött, hogy feladja a mérkőzést.
If you arrive more than fifteen minutes late, you automatically forfeit the game.
Ha több mint tizenöt percet késel, automatikusan elveszíted a játékot.
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.
Learner examples
The team did not have enough players, so they forfeited the game.
A csapatnak nem volt elég játékosa, ezért feladták a mérkőzést.
If you cheat, you may forfeit the match.
Ha csalsz, elveszítheted a mérkőzést.
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.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say 'lose the game by forfeit' when they mean 'forfeit the game'. Both are possible, but 'forfeit the game' focuses on the action of the team that breaks the rules, while 'win/lose by forfeit' describes the result.
Meaning
lose a game by default
Collocations
forfeit the game
|forfeit the match
|forfeit the point
|forced to forfeit
|forfeit on a technicality
|win by forfeit
Synonyms
default (In sports contexts, 'lose by default' is similar; 'forfeit' is more direct as the action verb.)
Antonyms
compete (To take part normally in a game instead of losing it automatically.)
|
play (To actually play the match instead of losing it without playing.)
Themes
sports
|games
Definition
To lose a game or match because you broke the rules or did not play, not because the other team won in normal play.
To lose a game, match, or point automatically as a penalty for not following the rules, not appearing, or being unable to continue.
C1
FORMAL
4
elkobzott
C1
Usage pattern:
forfeit [money/property/rights]
The court ordered the sale of the forfeit assets.
A bíróság elrendelte az elkobzott vagyon értékesítését.
Any forfeit property will be transferred to the state.
Minden elkobzott tulajdon az államra száll.
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.
Learner examples
The bank took control of the forfeit property.
A bank átvette az elkobzott tulajdon feletti irányítást.
The forfeit money went to the government.
Az elkobzott pénz az államhoz került.
Police sold the forfeit cars at auction.
The company could not use the forfeit assets.
They argued about who owned the forfeit land.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes place 'forfeit' after the noun (e.g. 'the property forfeit'). In modern usage as an adjective, 'forfeit' usually comes before the noun: 'forfeit property'.
Meaning
taken or liable to be taken
Collocations
forfeit assets
|forfeit property
|forfeit money
|forfeit shares
|held as forfeit
|forfeit goods
Synonyms
confiscated (Focuses on being taken away by an authority; 'forfeit' focuses more on the legal penalty status.)
Antonyms
secured (Describes property that is protected or guaranteed, not at risk of being taken as a penalty.)
Themes
law
|business
|finance
Definition
Used about money, property, or rights that you lose, or can be made to lose, because you broke a rule or law.
Describing money, property, or rights that have been taken, or can legally be taken, as a penalty for breaking a rule or law.
NOUN
B2
INFORMAL
5
Usage pattern:
do a forfeit; give [someone] a forfeit
Whoever drops the ball has to do a forfeit.
Aki elejti a labdát, annak végre kell hajtania egy büntetőfeladatot.
She picked a forfeit that made him sing in front of everyone.
Olyan büntetőfeladatot választott, amelyben elő kellett énekelnie mindenki előtt.
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.
Learner examples
If you lose, you must do a forfeit.
Ha veszítesz, végre kell hajtanod egy büntetőfeladatot.
The forfeit was to dance in the middle of the room.
A büntetőfeladat az volt, hogy a szoba közepén kellett táncolni.
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.
Meaning
playful penalty task in games
Collocations
do a forfeit
|silly forfeit
|give a forfeit
|pick a forfeit
|party forfeits
|forfeit game
Synonyms
dare (In party games, a 'dare' can be similar, but 'forfeit' specifically follows losing or breaking a rule.)
Antonyms
prize (A reward for winning, in contrast to a playful punishment for losing.)
Themes
games
|entertainment
|daily_life
|arts_entertainment
Definition
A fun or silly thing that a person must do because they lost a game or did not follow a game rule.
A playful task or small punishment that someone has to do for losing a game or breaking a fun or light-hearted rule, especially in children's or party games.
Grammar
Dictionary form
forfeit
IPA
GB/fˈɔɹfɪt/
US/fˈɔɹfɪt/
Syllables & stress
for - feit (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (for)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: forfeit
Noun
- Base: forfeit
- Plural: forfeit, forfeits
Verb
- Base: forfeit
- 3rd Person Singular: forfeits
- Present Participle: forfeiting
- Past: forfeited
Word family
Forms
forfeits
noun
forfeiting
verb
forfeited
verb
Advanced or less common
forfeiture
noun C1
forfeitable
adjective
Expressions
be forfeit to
1/bˈi fˈɔɹfɪt tə/
fixed phrase
formal
be legally taken as penalty
To become the property of the government or another authority because a law or rule was broken.
Examples
- 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
1/fˈɔɹfɪt ə dɪpˈɑzɪt/
fixed phrase
lose 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.
Examples
- Guests who cancel within 24 hours will forfeit their deposit.
- We decided to forfeit the deposit rather than sign a bad contract.
forfeit bail
1/fˈɔɹfɪt bˈeɪl/
fixed phrase
technical
lose 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.
Examples
- If the defendant fails to appear, she will forfeit bail.
- He skipped the hearing and ended up forfeiting his bail.
forfeit one's life
1/fˈɔɹfɪt wˈʌnz lˈaɪf/
fixed phrase
literary
lose one's life as punishment
To be killed as a punishment for something very serious, such as a crime.
Examples
- 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
1/fˈɔɹfɪt ðə ɡˈeɪm/
fixed phrase
lose 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.
Examples
- 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
1/fˈɔɹfɪt ðə ɹˈaɪt tə/
fixed phrase
formal
lose 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.
Examples
- By repeatedly lying, he forfeited the right to be trusted.
- People who drive drunk forfeit the right to hold a license.