Definitions for Forfeit
ˈfɔr fɪtfor·feit

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:4.8 / 4 votes

1. forfeit, forfeiturenoun

   something that is lost or surrendered as a penalty;

2. forfeit, forfeiturenoun

   a penalty for a fault or mistake that involves losing or giving up something

   "the contract specified forfeits if the work was not completed on time"

3. forfeit, forfeiture, sacrificeadjective

   the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc.

4. confiscate, forfeit, forfeitedverb

   surrendered as a penalty

5. forfeit, give up, throw overboard, waive, forgo, foregoverb

   lose (s.th.) or lose the right to (s.th.) by some error, offense, or crime

   "you've forfeited your right to name your successor"; "forfeited property"

WiktionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 2 votes

1. forfeitnoun

   a penalty for or consequence of a misdemeanor

2. forfeitverb

   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.

3. forfeitverb

   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.

4. Etymology: Middle English from ca. 1300, from Old French forfait "crime", originally the past participle of forfaire "transgress", ad Middle Latin foris factum. During the 15th century, the sense shifted from the crime to the penalty for the crime.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. FORFEITnoun

   Etymology: forfait, French; fforfed, Welsh.

   1. Something lost by the commission of a crime; something paid for expiation of a crime; a fine; a mulct.

   Thy slanders I forgive, and therewithal
   Remit thy other forfeits. William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure.

   Th’ execution leave to high disposal,
   And let another hand, not thine, exact
   Thy penal forfeit from thyself. John Milton, Agonistes, l. 506.

   Thy life, Melantius! I am come to take,
   Of which foul treason does a forfeit make. Edmund Waller.

   2. A person obnoxious to punishment; one whose life is forfeited by his offence. Now obsolete.

   Your brother is a forfeit of the law,
   And you but waste your words. William Shakespeare, Meas. for Measure.

   Claudio, whom here you have warrant to execute, is no greater forfeit to the law than Angelo, who hath sentenced him. William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure.

2. Forfeitparticipial adj.

   Liable to penal seizure; alienated by a crime; lost either as to the right or possession, by breach of conditions.

   Etymology: from the verb.

   All the souls that are, were forfeit once;
   And he that might the ’vantage best have took,
   Found out the remedy. William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure.

   Beg that thou may’st have leave to hang thyself;
   And yet, thy wealth being forfeit to the state,
   Thou hast not left the value of a cord. William Shakespeare.

   This now senceless world,
   Forfeit to death. John Milton, Paradise Lost, b. x. l. 303.

   Straight all his hopes exhal’d in empty smoke,
   And his long toils were forfeit for a look. John Dryden, Virg. Geor.

   Methought with wond’rous ease he swallow’d down
   His forfeit honour, to betray the town. John Dryden, Indian Emp.

   How the murd’rer paid his forfeit breath;
   What lands so distant from that scene of death,
   But trembling heard the fame! Alexander Pope, Odyssey, b. iii.

3. To Forfeitverb

   To lose by some breach of condition; to lose by some offence.

   Etymology: from the noun.

   If then a man, on light conditions, gain
   A great estate to him, and his, for ever;
   If wilfully he forfeit it again,
   Who doth bemoan his heir, or blame the giver? Davies.

   Men displeased God, and consequently forfeited all right to happiness. Boyle.

   A father cannot alien the power he has over his child: he may perhaps to some degrees forfeit it, but cannot transfer it. John Locke.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. forfeit

   Forfeit is a verb that refers to the act of giving up or surrendering something as a penalty or punishment for a violation, failure, or breach of a rule, contract, or obligation. It involves intentionally relinquishing a right, possession, privilege, or claim and often results in a loss or deprivation of that item or opportunity. It is commonly used in legal, sporting, and competitive contexts.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:1.0 / 1 vote

1. Forfeitnoun

   injury; wrong; mischief

2. Forfeitnoun

   a thing forfeit or forfeited; what is or may be taken from one in requital of a misdeed committed; that which is lost, or the right to which is alienated, by a crime, offense, neglect of duty, or breach of contract; hence, a fine; a mulct; a penalty; as, he who murders pays the forfeit of his life

3. Forfeitnoun

   something deposited and redeemable by a sportive fine; -- whence the game of forfeits

4. Forfeitnoun

   lost or alienated for an offense or crime; liable to penal seizure

5. Forfeitnoun

   to lose, or lose the right to, by some error, fault, offense, or crime; to render one's self by misdeed liable to be deprived of; to alienate the right to possess, by some neglect or crime; as, to forfeit an estate by treason; to forfeit reputation by a breach of promise; -- with to before the one acquiring what is forfeited

6. Forfeitverb

   to be guilty of a misdeed; to be criminal; to transgress

7. Forfeitverb

   to fail to keep an obligation

8. Forfeit

   in the condition of being forfeited; subject to alienation

9. Etymology: [OE. forfeten. See Forfeit, n.]

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Forfeit

   for′fit, v.t. to lose the right to by some fault or crime:—pr.p. for′feiting; pa.p. for′feited.—n. that which is forfeited: a penalty for a crime, or breach of some condition: a fine: something deposited and redeemable by a sportive fine or penalty, esp. in pl., a game of this kind.—adj. forfeited.—adj. For′feitable.—ns. For′feiter (Shak.), one who incurs punishment by forfeiting his bond; For′feiture, act of forfeiting: state of being forfeited: the thing forfeited. [O. Fr. forfait—Low L. forisfactum—L. forisfacĕre, to transgress.]

Military Dictionary and GazetteerRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. forfeit

   To render oneself by misdeeds liable to be deprived of; as, a soldier forfeits pay by sentence of court-martial for offenses committed.

Matched Categories

1. • Penalty

Anagrams for Forfeit »

1. forefit

How to pronounce Forfeit?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Forfeit in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Forfeit in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Forfeit in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of Forfeit in a Sentence

1. Phaedrus:

   I would rather not be a king than to forfeit my liberty.

2. Kenneth Shults:

   Our family has always owned and used firearms, no foster parent should have to forfeit their constitutional rights in order to be a foster parent.

3. Daphne Keller:

   There was pretty broad consensus that this was an emergency and you could take emergency measures and forfeit some other priorities in the name of public health.

4. Lane Kiffin:

   Nobody wants to be in a position to forfeit games.

5. Vanna Bonta:

   The primary dues a writer or any artist pays is to remain sentient, and to forfeit the illusionary luxury of such anesthetics as avoidance, numbness, and denials.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=Forfeit
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Forfeit
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=Forfeit
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Forfeit
6. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=Forfeit
7. ^ Military Dictionary and Gazetteer
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/59563/pg59563-images.html