penalise
gb/pˈɛnəlɪs/ us/pˈɛnəlɪs/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Verb
formal
C1
action
1
punish with an official penalty
To officially punish someone for doing something wrong.
Usage pattern:
penalise [someone] for [something]/for [doing something]
Common mistake:
In American English the usual spelling is penalize. Don’t confuse penalise with "criticise" (it implies an official penalty).
Synonyms
punish (More general; penalise suggests a formal or rule-based penalty.)
|
sanction (Often used in official or political contexts; can be broader than a single penalty.)
|
fine (More specific: penalise can involve penalties other than money.)
Antonyms
reward (Gives a benefit rather than a penalty.)
|
pardon (Officially forgives instead of punishing.)
Collocations
penalise someone for speeding
|penalise illegal behaviour
|penalise non-compliance
|penalise companies
|penalise offenders
|penalise rule-breaking
|penalise violations
|penalise misconduct
|penalise severely
|penalise heavily
Themes
law
|rules
|government
|justice
Examples
- The regulator can penalise firms that fail to protect customer data.
- Drivers may be penalised for using a phone while at the wheel.
- The policy penalises landlords who ignore safety rules.
Learner examples
- You will be penalised for cheating.
- The company was penalised for breaking the law.
Verb
formal
C1
action
2
put at a disadvantage
To make things harder for someone, so they are less likely to succeed.
Usage pattern:
penalise [someone/something] (by [doing something])
Common mistake:
Penalise does not always mean an intentional punishment; it can mean a rule or situation disadvantages someone.
Synonyms
disadvantage (Neutral term; penalise suggests the disadvantage comes from a rule, system, or consequence.)
|
handicap (Often implies making progress harder; can sound less formal and may be sensitive in some contexts.)
Antonyms
advantage (Gives someone a helpful benefit.)
|
favour (Treats someone more positively than others.)
Collocations
penalise low-income families
|penalise small businesses
|penalise remote workers
|penalise applicants
|penalise students
|penalise people with disabilities
|penalise older people
|penalise the poor
|unfairly penalise
|effectively penalise
Themes
business
|society
|education
|inequality
Examples
- The new tax rules penalise people who save for retirement.
- A rigid attendance policy can penalise students with chronic illness.
- High fees penalise smaller suppliers who can’t negotiate discounts.
Learner examples
- This rule penalises part-time workers.
Verb
B2
action
3
give a sports penalty
In sport, to give a penalty because a rule was broken.
Usage pattern:
penalise [someone/a team] for [something]
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse penalise (give a penalty) with "criticise" (say something is bad).
Synonyms
call a foul on (Common in some sports; less formal and more sport-specific.)
|
dock (Often used for points or time penalties; less general than penalise.)
Antonyms
let off (Chooses not to give a penalty.)
Collocations
penalise a player
|penalise a team
|penalise for offside
|penalise for handball
|penalise for a foul
|penalise for dangerous play
|penalise for holding
|wrongly penalise
|penalise immediately
|penalise consistently
Themes
sports
|rules
Examples
- The referee penalised the defender for a late challenge.
- The team was penalised for repeated infringements at the breakdown.
- She was penalised for stepping out of bounds.
Learner examples
- The referee penalised him for a foul.
Grammar
Dictionary form
penalise
IPA
GB/pˈɛnəlɪs/
US/pˈɛnəlɪs/
Syllables & stress
pen - al - ise (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pen)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: penalise
- 3rd Person Singular: penalises
- Present Participle: penalising
- Past: penalised
Word family
Expressions
be penalised for (doing) something
1/bˈi pˈɛnəlɪsd fɚ dˈuɪŋ sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
formal
receive a penalty for something
To get a penalty because of something you did.
Examples
- You may be penalised for submitting the form late.
- The driver was penalised for speeding in a school zone.
- Several players were penalised for offside.
penalise someone with a fine/points deduction
1/pˈɛnəlɪs sˈʌmwˌʌn wˈɪθ ə fˈaɪnpˈɔɪnts dɪdˈʌkʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
punish by giving a specific penalty
To punish someone by giving them a specific penalty, like a fine.
Examples
- The club was penalised with a points deduction for breaking spending rules.
- The court penalised him with a heavy fine.
- The airline may be penalised with further sanctions if it ignores the ruling.