• Forfeit

    Pronunciation

    • RP IPA: /ˈfɔː.fɪt/
    • Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)fɪt

    Origin

    Middle English from ca. 1300, from Old French forfait ("crime"), originally the past participle of forfaire ("to transgress"), and Medieval Latin foris factum. During the 15th century, the sense shifted from the crime to the penalty for the crime.

    Full definition of forfeit

    Noun

    forfeit

    (plural forfeits)
    1. A penalty for or consequence of a misdemeanor.That he our deadly forfeit should release (John Milton, On the Morning of Christ's Nativity, 1629)
    2. A thing forfeited; that which is taken from somebody in requital of a misdeed committed; that which is lost, or the right to which is alienated, by a crime, breach of contract, etc.He who murders pays the forfeit of his own life.
      • ShakespeareThy slanders I forgive; and therewithal
        Remit thy other forfeits.
    3. Something deposited and redeemable by a sportive fine as part of a game.
      • GoldsmithCountry dances and forfeits shortened the rest of the day.
    4. (obsolete, rare) Injury; wrong; mischief.
      • Ld. Bernersto seek arms upon people and country that never did us any forfeit

    Verb

    1. To suffer the loss of something by wrongdoing or non-complianceHe forfeited his last chance of an early release from jail by repeatedly attacking another inmate.
    2. To lose a contest, game, match, or other form of competition by voluntary withdrawal, by failing to attend or participate, or by violation of the rulesBecause only nine players were present, the football team was forced to forfeit the game.
    3. To be guilty of a misdeed; to be criminal; to transgress.
    4. To fail to keep an obligation.
      • ShakespeareI will have the heart of him if he forfeit.

    Usage notes

    Very rarely, forfeit is used as the past tense form and past participle (i.e., the past tense forms and the present tense form are homographs).

    Synonyms

    Derived terms

    Adjective

    forfeit

    1. Lost or alienated for an offense or crime; liable to penal seizure.
      • Shakespearethy wealth being forfeit to the state
      • Emersonto tread the forfeit paradise
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