forfeit

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.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔː.fɪt/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔɹ.fɪt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)fɪt

forfeit (countable and uncountable, plural forfeits)

1. A penalty for or consequence of a misdemeanor.
   • 1629, John Milton, On the Morning of Christ's Nativity

     That he our deadly forfeit should release

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.

   • Shakespeare

     Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal / Remit thy other forfeits.

3. Something deposited and redeemable by a sportive fine as part of a game.
   • Goldsmith

     Country dances and forfeits shortened the rest of the day.

4. (obsolete, rare) Injury; wrong; mischief.
   • Ld. Berners

     to seek arms upon people and country that never did us any forfeit

forfeit (third-person singular simple present forfeits, present participle forfeiting, simple past and past participle forfeited or (rare) forfeit)

1. To suffer the loss of something by wrongdoing or non-compliance

   He 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 rules

   Because 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.
   • Shakespeare

     I will have the heart of him if he forfeit.

• (lose a contest): capitulate, surrender, disqualify
• (voluntarily give up): forgo, withgo

forfeit (not comparable)

1. Lost or alienated for an offense or crime; liable to penal seizure.
   • Emerson

     to tread the forfeit paradise

• toffier