Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense forfeits, present participle forfeiting, past tense, past participle forfeited
1. verb
If you forfeit something, you lose it or are forced to give it up because you have broken a rule or done something wrong.
He was ordered to forfeit more than £1.5m in profits. [VERB noun]
He argues that murderers forfeit their own right to life. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: relinquish, lose, give up, surrender More Synonyms of forfeit
2. verb
If you forfeit something, you give it up willingly, especially so that you can achieve something else.
He has forfeited a lucrative fee but feels his well-being is more important. [VERB noun]
Do you think that they would forfeit profit in the name of safety? [VERB noun]
3. countable noun
A forfeit is something that you have to give up because you have done something wrong.
That is the forfeit he must pay.
Synonyms: penalty, fine, damages, forfeiture More Synonyms of forfeit
forfeit in British English
(ˈfɔːfɪt)
noun
1.
something lost or given up as a penalty for a fault, mistake, etc
2.
the act of losing or surrendering something in this manner
3. law
something confiscated as a penalty for an offence, breach of contract, etc
4. (sometimes plural)
a.
a game in which a player has to give up an object, perform a specified action, etc, if he or she commits a fault
b.
an object so given up
verb
5. (transitive)
to lose or be liable to lose in consequence of a mistake, fault, etc
6. (transitive) law
a.
to confiscate as punishment
b.
to surrender (something exacted as a penalty)
adjective
7.
surrendered or liable to be surrendered as a penalty
Derived forms
forfeitable (ˈforfeitable)
adjective
forfeiter (ˈforfeiter)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Old French forfet offence, from forfaire to commit a crime, from Medieval Latin foris facere to act outside (what is lawful), from Latin foris outside + facere to do
forfeit in American English
(ˈfɔrfɪt)
noun
1.
something that one loses or has to give up because of some crime, fault, or neglect of duty; specif., a fine or penalty
2.
a.
a thing taken away as a penalty for making some mistake in a game, and redeemable by a specified action
b. [pl.]
any game in which such forfeits are taken
3.
the act of forfeiting; forfeiture
adjective
4.
lost, given up, or taken away as a forfeit
verb transitive
5.
to lose, give up, or be deprived of as a forfeit for some crime, fault, etc.
Derived forms
forfeitable (ˈforfeitable)
adjective
forfeiter (ˈforfeiter)
noun
Word origin
ME forfet < OFr forfait, pp. of forfaire, to transgress < ML forisfacere, to do wrong, lit., to do beyond < L foris, foras, out-of-doors, beyond (see foreign) + facere (see fact)
Examples of 'forfeit' in a sentence
forfeit
Yet if management has failed spectacularly, the unions have forfeited any right to public support.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But if you don't get yourself involved and try to do something about it then you forfeit your right to moan.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The New Zealand governing body said that he had received an official warning and would forfeit his selection fees.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If the investor refuses to pay, they could lose any shareholder rights and forfeit their stock, which could be sold to another investor or cancelled.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Viewers vote for their favourite and the loser has to perform a forfeit.
The Sun (2012)
By and large those who got us into this mess are not going to pay the forfeit.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
They would also forfeit the right to leave their home to their heirs.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They do not forfeit basic rights just because they are away from work.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
He must also forfeit his computer and is barred from the web.
The Sun (2012)
The most galling aspect of this setback was that the champion had been winning easily when he unnecessarily forfeited the game.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The Test was forfeited when they refused to take the field after tea.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
To buy anything, you must forfeit some of your life expectancy.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Sometimes we feel that we would gladly forfeit the profit in exchange for a neat, clean stall.
Christianity Today (2000)
The landlord can also almost certainly forfeit your deposit, but only as a contribution towards the rent.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
There are cases when players will forfeit the financial side to come to a project that they feel they can play a big part in.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The match was the first to be forfeited in Test history and led to the umpire losing his place on the elite panel.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
WHAT would you do if a stranger offered you a 1million loan with the proviso you pay it back in a year or forfeit your life?
The Sun (2013)
In other languages
forfeit
British English: forfeit VERB
If you forfeit something, you lose it or are forced to give it up because you have broken a rule or done something wrong.
If the money is withdrawn for personal use, the investor will only get normal market returns and forfeit the bonus portion.
American English: forfeit
Brazilian Portuguese: perder direito a
Chinese: > 失去因违规或做错事而
European Spanish: perder derecho a
French: perdre
German: verlieren
Italian: perdere
Japanese: 没収される
Korean: 몰수당하다
European Portuguese: perder direito a
Latin American Spanish: perder derecho a
British English: forfeit NOUN
A forfeit is something that you have to give up because you have done something wrong.
That is the forfeit he must pay.
American English: forfeit
Brazilian Portuguese: coisa perdida por negligência
Chinese: > 放弃之事因违规或做错事而
European Spanish: precio
French: prix
German: Strafe
Italian: penalità
Japanese: 没収物
Korean: 몰수
European Portuguese: coisa perdida por negligência
Latin American Spanish: precio
Chinese translation of 'forfeit'
forfeit
(ˈfɔːfɪt)
n(c)
(= price, fine) 罚(罰)金 (fájīn)
vt
(= lose)[right, chance, privilege]丧(喪)失 (sàngshī)
(= give up)[one's happiness, health, income]放弃(棄) (fàngqì)
(noun)
Definition
something lost or given up as a penalty for a fault, mistake, etc.
That is the forfeit he must pay.
Synonyms
penalty
The maximum penalty is 7 years' imprisonment.
fine
If convicted he faces a fine of one million dollars.
damages
forfeiture
the forfeiture of illegally obtained profits
loss
The loss of income is about £250 million.
mulct
amercement (obsolete)
(verb)
Definition
to lose as a forfeit
He was ordered to forfeit more than £1.5m in profits.
Synonyms
relinquish
He does not intend to relinquish power.
lose
He lost his licence.
give up
After a few attempts he gave up.
surrender
She had to surrender all rights to her property.
renounce
He renounced his claim to the throne.
be deprived of
say goodbye to
be stripped of
Additional synonyms
in the sense of fine
Definition
a payment imposed as a penalty
If convicted he faces a fine of one million dollars.