a punishment imposed for breaking a law, rule, or contract, a disadvantage suffered as the result of an action or situation

pay the penalty, take a penalty, face the penalty

death penalty, penalty box, penalty shootout

Formal and Informal Expressions of penalty

In different contexts, you can replace 'penalty' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'sanction, punishment' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'consequence, price' is a commonplace synonym.

penalty: Explore its Definition & Usage

penalty Definition

1a punishment imposed for breaking a law, rule, or contract
2a disadvantage suffered as the result of an action or situation

Using penalty: Examples

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

Example
The penalty for speeding is a fine.
Example
He received a penalty for his foul play in the game.
Example
The company suffered a penalty for violating environmental regulations.
Example
The team was awarded a penalty kick in the final minutes of the game.

penalty Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for penalty

Antonyms for penalty

Idioms Using penalty

pay the penalty
suffer the consequences of one's actions
Example
He knew he would have to pay the penalty for not studying for the exam.
take a penalty
to take a penalty kick in football (soccer)
Example
He was nervous about taking the penalty in the shootout.
face the penalty
to receive the punishment for something
Example
He knew he would have to face the penalty for his mistake.

Phrases with penalty

death penalty
a legal punishment where a person is put to death by the state as a consequence for a crime they have committed
Example
The death penalty is still used in some countries for serious crimes.
penalty box
an area in ice hockey where players serve time for minor penalties
Example
He was sent to the penalty box for two minutes for tripping.
penalty shootout
a method used to determine the winner of a tied football (soccer) match, where each team takes turns shooting penalty kicks at the goal
Example
The game ended in a draw and went to a penalty shootout to determine the winner.

Origins of penalty

from Latin 'poena', meaning 'punishment'

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Summary: penalty in Brief

The term 'penalty' [ˈpenlti] refers to a punishment imposed for breaking a law, rule, or contract, or a disadvantage suffered as the result of an action or situation. It includes examples like 'The penalty for speeding is a fine.' and 'The team was awarded a penalty kick in the final minutes of the game.' Phrases like 'death penalty' and idioms like 'pay the penalty' are also common.