penalize
gb/pˈɛnəlˌaɪz/ us/pˈɛnəlˌaɪz/
B2
English
megbüntet, büntet, hátrányosan érint, hátrányba hoz
VERB
B2
FORMAL
1
megbüntet
B1
Usage pattern:
penalize [someone] (for [something/doing something])
The new law penalizes employers who fail to pay overtime.
Az új törvény megbünteti azokat a munkáltatókat, akik nem fizetik ki a túlóradíjat.
The company was penalized for dumping waste into the river.
A vállalatot megbüntették, mert hulladékot öntött a folyóba.
Repeat offenders may be penalized more severely.
Learner examples
You can be penalized for breaking the rules.
Megbüntethetnek, ha megszeged a szabályokat.
The school penalized students for cheating.
Az iskola megbüntette a diákokat csalásért.
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse with "criticize"; to penalize means to apply an actual penalty, not just express disapproval.
Meaning
punish by imposing a penalty
Collocations
penalize someone for
|penalize a company
|penalize a driver
|penalize illegal behavior
|penalize violations
|heavily penalize
|criminally penalize
|penalize under the law
|penalize noncompliance
|penalize offenders
Synonyms
punish (More general; not always an official penalty.)
|
sanction (Often used for official or institutional penalties.)
|
fine (Specifically to punish by requiring payment.)
Antonyms
reward (To give a benefit instead of a penalty.)
|
pardon (To forgive an offense rather than punish it.)
Themes
law
|rules
|government
|crime
Definition
To punish someone by giving them a penalty.
To punish someone or deal with something by applying a penalty, such as a fine, restriction, or other official punishment.
VERB
B2
2
büntet
B1
Usage pattern:
penalize [someone/a team] (for [something])
The referee penalized the defender for a late tackle.
A játékvezető büntette a védőt egy elkésett belépőért.
The team was penalized three points for violating the salary cap.
A csapatot három pont levonásával büntették a bérplafon megsértése miatt.
She was penalized for stepping out of bounds.
Learner examples
The referee penalized him for a foul.
A játékvezető szabálytalanságért büntette őt.
Common mistake:
In sports, "penalize" is often used with referees/officials as the subject (e.g., "The referee penalized him").
Meaning
give a penalty in sports
Collocations
penalize a team
|penalize a player
|penalize a foul
|penalize for handball
|penalize for offside
|penalize for dangerous play
|be penalized for
|wrongly penalize
|heavily penalize
|penalize the offense
Synonyms
penalise (British spelling.)
|
dock (Often means to take away points or money.)
Antonyms
award (To give a point/advantage instead of a penalty.)
Themes
sports
|competition
|rules
Definition
In sports, to give someone a penalty for breaking a rule.
In a sport or competition, to apply a penalty to a player or team, for example by awarding a foul, giving a time penalty, or deducting points.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
3
Usage pattern:
penalize [someone/something] (for [something])
The policy unintentionally penalizes part-time workers.
Ez a szabályozás akaratlanul is hátrányosan érinti a részmunkaidős dolgozókat.
The algorithm can penalize candidates with nontraditional career paths.
Az algoritmus hátrányosan érintheti a nem hagyományos karrierutat bejárt jelentkezőket.
High banking fees penalize customers who maintain low balances.
Learner examples
This rule penalizes people who work part-time.
Ez a szabály hátrányosan érinti a részmunkaidőben dolgozókat.
Common mistake:
This meaning is often about indirect effects (a system penalizes a group), not direct punishment by a person.
Meaning
put at a disadvantage
Collocations
penalize low-income families
|penalize small businesses
|penalize older workers
|penalize users
|penalize innovation
|penalize risk-taking
|penalize applicants
|unfairly penalize
|effectively penalize
|penalize someone financially
Synonyms
disadvantage (More general; does not necessarily imply a rule-based penalty.)
|
harm (Broader and less tied to systems or rules.)
|
handicap (Often emphasizes making success harder.)
Antonyms
favor (To give an advantage rather than a disadvantage.)
|
benefit (To help rather than hurt.)
Themes
business
|education
|society
|technology
Definition
To cause someone to have a disadvantage or lose benefits.
To put someone or something at a disadvantage or make them suffer a negative effect, often unintentionally, because of a rule, policy, system, or feature.
Grammar
Dictionary form
penalize
IPA
GB/pˈɛnəlˌaɪz/
US/pˈɛnəlˌaɪz/
Syllables & stress
pen - al - ize (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pen)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: penalize
- 3rd Person Singular: penalizes
- Present Participle: penalizing
- Past: penalized
Word family
Expressions
be penalized for [something/doing something]
1/bˈi pˈinəlˌaɪzd fɚ səmˈɛθɪŋdˈɔɪŋ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
receive a penalty for a reason
To get a penalty because of something you did.
Examples
- Drivers can be penalized for using a phone at the wheel.
- She was penalized for submitting the form late.
- The team was penalized for too many players on the field.
Learner examples
- I was penalized for breaking the rule.
penalize [someone/something] for [something/doing something]
1/pˈɛnəlˌaɪz sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ fɚ səmˈɛθɪŋdˈɔɪŋ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
punish or disadvantage for a reason
Used to say why someone gets a penalty.
Examples
- The judge penalized the firm for repeated safety violations.
- The referee penalized him for time-wasting.
- The grading system can penalize students for minor formatting errors.
Learner examples
- They penalized her for being late.