penalty

penalty — noun

1. an official punishment that a court or other authority gives when someone does s

1.nounB2
Definition

an official punishment that a court or other authority gives when someone does something illegal.

Example

Under city law, shops face a penalty for selling alcohol after midnight.

pattern: penalty for + verb-ing

The judge increased the penalty after Malik ignored two earlier warnings.

Common collocations
  • heavy penalty
  • criminal penalty
  • face a penalty
  • receive a penalty
  • impose a penalty
Synonyms
  • punishment

    the broadest word and not limited to legal or rule-based cases

  • sentence

    used especially for the formal decision of a court

  • sanction

    more formal and common in legal, political, or business contexts

  • fine

    narrower because it only means a money payment

Antonyms
  • reward

    something good given for right behavior instead of wrongdoing

Grammar Patterns

penalty for + noun/verb-ing

receive/face a penalty

impose a penalty

Usage Note

Often used for a punishment fixed by law or imposed by a court or public authority. Distinguish from sense 2, which is commonly about money owed because an agreement or rule was not followed.

Common Mistakes

The company received penalty for the leak.
The company received a penalty for the leak.
This noun is usually countable when you mean one official punishment.
He got a penalty to speeding.
He got a penalty for speeding.
Use 'for' before the illegal act.

2. an extra amount of money or other loss you must accept because you did not keep

2.nounB2
Definition

an extra amount of money or other loss you must accept because you did not keep to an agreement or a set of rules.

Example

Members pay a penalty if they return library books a week late.

pattern: pay a penalty

The phone company added a penalty when Nora ended the contract early.

contract context: end the contract early

Common collocations
  • late penalty
  • daily penalty
  • pay a penalty
  • charge a penalty
  • penalty for late payment
Synonyms
  • fine

    can be similar, but is more strongly linked to official punishment

  • charge

    broader and can be any fee, not necessarily for breaking a rule

  • fee

    usually neutral and does not itself suggest wrongdoing

  • forfeit

    more formal and often means money or rights lost under rules

Antonyms
  • refund

    money returned to you instead of money taken because you broke a rule

Grammar Patterns

pay a penalty

penalty for + verb-ing

daily penalty

Usage Note

Common in contracts, bills, memberships, and other formal rules. The amount is often fixed in advance, unlike sense 1, which is tied more directly to law and official punishment.

Common Mistakes

I paid a penalty money for canceling the room.
I paid a penalty for canceling the room.
'Penalty' itself can name the extra payment, so 'money' is unnecessary.
The gym gave me a penalty to ending early.
The gym gave me a penalty for ending early.
This sense usually takes 'for' before the broken rule or action.

3. in sport, a special chance, point, or other disadvantage awarded after the other

3.nounB2
Definition

in sport, a special chance, point, or other disadvantage awarded after the other side breaks the rules.

Example

After the defender grabbed Mia's shirt, the referee gave a penalty.

sports pattern: give a penalty

Japan scored from the penalty in the final minute.

collocation: score from a penalty

Common collocations
  • award a penalty
  • penalty kick
  • time penalty
  • score from a penalty
  • two-minute penalty
Synonyms
  • sanction

    formal and broad; it does not suggest a sports action as clearly as penalty

  • free kick

    only fits sports where the penalty takes that form

  • spot kick

    used specifically for a soccer penalty kick

Antonyms
  • advantage

    in some sports, play continues to favor the fouled side instead of stopping for a penalty

Grammar Patterns

give/award a penalty

score from a penalty

[number]-minute penalty

Usage Note

The exact result depends on the sport: it may be a free chance to score, extra time off the field, or another formal disadvantage. Distinguish from sense 1 because this sense belongs to game rules, not the law.

Common Mistakes

The referee did a penalty.
The referee gave a penalty.
The usual verb is 'give' or 'award', not 'do'.
They got penalty in the last minute.
They got a penalty in the last minute.
This meaning is normally countable.

4. a bad result or disadvantage caused by a choice, an action, or a situation.

4.nounC1
Definition

a bad result or disadvantage caused by a choice, an action, or a situation.

Example

One penalty of living downtown is noise from late-night bars.

pattern: penalty of + verb-ing

The penalty for rushing the job was three days of extra repairs.

pattern: penalty for + action

Common collocations
  • one penalty of
  • the penalty for rushing
  • bring a penalty
  • carry the penalty of
  • penalty of fame
Synonyms
  • drawback

    often sounds milder and is common for disadvantages in plans or products

  • downside

    informal and often used in everyday speech

  • cost

    can be emotional or practical, not only about money

  • consequence

    broader and does not always suggest a negative result

Antonyms
  • benefit

    a good result that comes from an action or situation

Grammar Patterns

penalty of + noun/verb-ing

carry/bring a penalty

the penalty for + action

Usage Note

Often followed by of or for when it names the negative side of a choice or condition. Distinguish from senses 1 and 2, where a person or system formally imposes the penalty.

Common Mistakes

The penalty from living here is expensive food.
The penalty of living here is expensive food.
This sense commonly uses 'of' before the situation.
Late work had the penalty that we missed dinner.
Late work carried the penalty of missing dinner.
This sense is usually expressed with 'of' + noun or verb-ing.
Idioms

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For noun/1, penalty is useful when the focus is on what someone must suffer after breaking a law or rule, especially when the punishment is fixed by a system. Punishment is broader and can be legal, social, or personal. Fine is narrower because it only means money. Sentence is mainly the formal decision of a court, especially when prison or another specific legal punishment is named. Sanction is more formal and is common in law, business, and international relations. Say 'The company faced a heavy penalty for the leak' when the result matters. Say 'The judge gave him a five-year sentence' when you mean the court's exact decision.

punishment ↗fine ↗sentence ↗sanction ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • face a penalty
  • pay a penalty
  • impose a penalty

Prepositions

  • penalty for
  • penalty of

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Penalty came into English through French from Latin words built on poena, meaning punishment. Over time, English kept the basic idea of suffering a loss or punishment, then extended it from law to contracts, sport, and more general disadvantages.