penalty
gb/pˈɛnəlti/ us/pˈɛnəlti/
A2
English
~ 2400
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
punishment for a rule violation
A punishment you get when you break a rule or law.
Usage pattern:
a penalty for [doing something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'penalty' with 'fee'; a 'fee' is usually a regular payment for service, while a 'penalty' is a punishment cost.
Synonyms
punishment (A general term for any consequence given for wrongdoing, not limited to formal rules.)
Antonyms
reward (Given as a positive outcome for good behavior, opposite to a penalty which is negative.)
Collocations
pay a penalty
|face a penalty
|heavy penalty
|severe penalty
|legal penalty
Themes
law
|sports
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company faced a heavy penalty for violating environmental regulations.
- You will receive a penalty if you park in this area without a permit.
- There’s a penalty for late payment of the bill.
- The new law increases the penalty for drunk driving.
- He paid the penalty for his careless actions.
Learner examples
- She got a penalty for driving too fast.
- There is a penalty if you pay late.
- He paid the penalty for breaking the rule.
- The shop must pay a penalty for selling bad food.
- We have to pay a penalty if we cancel the trip.
Noun
B2
entity
2
disadvantage resulting from an action
A bad result or loss caused by something you do or that happens.
Usage pattern:
the penalty of [something]
Synonyms
cost (Focuses on the price or sacrifice involved, not necessarily as punishment.)
Antonyms
benefit (A positive result or advantage, opposite to a penalty as a negative result.)
Collocations
the penalties of fame
|the penalties of aging
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
|daily_life
Examples
- One of the penalties of living in the city is the constant noise.
- The penalty of working long hours is less time with family.
- Fame brings many advantages, but also some penalties.
- The main penalty of his decision was losing his friends.
Learner examples
- The penalty of eating too much is feeling sick.
- A big city has the penalty of being noisy.
- One penalty of his job is stress.
- The penalty of not sleeping is feeling tired.
Noun
A2
entity
3
punishment for breaking sports rules
A punishment in sports when someone breaks the rules.
Usage pattern:
receive a penalty
Synonyms
foul (In sports, an illegal play; not always resulting in a formal penalty.)
Antonyms
advantage (In sports, an opportunity gained, opposite to losing one due to a penalty.)
Collocations
penalty kick
|penalty shot
|serve a penalty
Themes
sports
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He was given a two-minute penalty for tripping another player.
- The referee awarded a penalty kick after the foul.
- A penalty shot was given when the defender held the attacker’s stick.
Learner examples
- The player got a penalty for hitting another player.
- He scored from the penalty kick.
- She got a two-minute penalty in the game.
Grammar
Dictionary form
penalty
IPA
GB/pˈɛnəlti/
US/pˈɛnəlti/
Syllables & stress
pen - alty (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (pen)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: penalty
- Plural: penalties
Word family
Expressions
pay the penalty
1/pˈeɪ ðə pˈɛnəlti/
idiom
suffer consequences of wrongdoing
To suffer because of something bad you did.
Examples
- He ignored the safety rules and paid the penalty when he got injured.
- If you cheat, you will pay the penalty sooner or later.
penalty kick
1/pˈɛnəlti kˈɪk/
fixed phrase
soccer free kick from penalty spot
In soccer, a free shot at goal from the penalty spot after a foul in the box.
Examples
- The referee awarded a penalty kick after the defender fouled the striker.
- He scored from the penalty kick to win the game.
penalty shootout
1/pˈɛnəlti ʃˈutaʊt/
fixed phrase
soccer tiebreaker with penalties
In soccer, when each team takes turns shooting from the penalty spot to decide who wins after a tie.
Examples
- The match ended in a 1-1 draw and went to a penalty shootout.
- They won the championship after a tense penalty shootout.