lose or be deprived of (property or a right or privilege) as a penalty for wrongdoing, a fine or penalty for wrongdoing or for a breach of the rules in a club or game

cut one's losses and forfeit the game, forfeit one's soul, forfeit the right to complain

forfeit one's life, forfeit one's rights, forfeit a game

Formal and Informal Expressions of forfeit

In different contexts, you can replace 'forfeit' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'relinquish, surrender' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'give up, lose' is a commonplace synonym.

forfeit: Explore its Definition & Usage

forfeit Definition

1lose or be deprived of (property or a right or privilege) as a penalty for wrongdoing
2a fine or penalty for wrongdoing or for a breach of the rules in a club or game

Using forfeit: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "forfeit" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
He forfeited his right to a fair trial by fleeing the country.
Example
The team had to forfeit the game due to a violation of league rules.
Example
She had to forfeit her deposit when she canceled the reservation.
Example
The defendant was ordered to pay a $10,000 forfeiture.

forfeit Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for forfeit

Antonyms for forfeit

Idioms Using forfeit

cut one's losses and forfeit the game
to give up on a situation that is going badly and accept the consequences of failure
Example
After losing three key players to injury, the coach decided to cut his losses and forfeit the game.
forfeit one's soul
to lose one's moral integrity or sense of self-respect
Example
He knew that if he took the bribe, he would be forfeiting his soul.
forfeit the right to complain
to lose the ability to express dissatisfaction or criticism due to one's own actions or choices
Example
If you don't vote, you forfeit the right to complain about the outcome of the election.

Phrases with forfeit

forfeit one's life
to be executed for a crime committed
Example
The criminal was sentenced to forfeit his life for his heinous crimes.
forfeit one's rights
to lose one's legal entitlements or privileges as a result of a particular action
Example
The employee forfeited his rights to severance pay by violating company policy.
forfeit a game
to lose a game by default or as a penalty for breaking the rules
Example
The team had to forfeit the game because they did not have enough players.

Origins of forfeit

from Middle English 'forfet', meaning 'crime'

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Summary: forfeit in Brief

The term 'forfeit' [ˈfɔːfɪt] refers to losing property, rights, or privileges as a penalty for wrongdoing. It can also refer to a fine or penalty for breaking rules in a club or game. Examples include 'He forfeited his right to a fair trial by fleeing the country.' and 'The team had to forfeit the game due to a violation of league rules.' Idioms like 'cut one's losses and forfeit the game' imply giving up on a situation that is going badly.