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forfeit

Syllabification: (for·feit)
Pronunciation: /ˈfôrfit/
Translate forfeit | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of forfeit

verb (forfeits, forfeiting, forfeited)

[with object]
  • lose or be deprived of (property or a right or privilege) as a penalty for wrongdoing:those unable to meet their taxes were liable to forfeit their property
  • lose or give up (something) as a necessary consequence of something else:she didn’t mind forfeiting an extra hour in bed to get up and clean the stables

noun

  • a fine or penalty for wrongdoing or for a breach of the rules in a club or game.
  • Law an item of property or a right or privilege lost as a legal penalty.
  • (forfeits) a game in which trivial penalties are exacted.
  • the action of forfeiting something.

adjective

[predic.]
  • lost or surrendered as a penalty for wrongdoing or neglect:the lands which he had acquired were automatically forfeit

Derivatives

forfeitable

adjective

forfeiter

Pronunciation: /ˈfôrfitər/
noun

Origin:

Middle English (originally denoting a crime or transgression, hence a fine or penalty for this): from Old French forfet, forfait, past participle of forfaire 'transgress', from for- 'out' (from Latin foris 'outside') + faire 'do' (from Latin facere)

Remember that forfeit is spelled with the e before the i.you may forfeit your entire income.

forfeit in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of forfeit in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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