Forfeit: Losing Something Because of What You Did
To forfeit is to lose a right or a possession as a penalty. The word began as a term for a crime, not a punishment.
To forfeit something is to lose it as a consequence of your own act: a deposit, a right, a match. The Old French *forfait* meant the offence itself; English kept the word and moved it along the chain, from the wrongdoing to what the wrongdoing costs you.
- To lose as a penalty. *He forfeited his deposit.*
- To give up voluntarily. *She forfeited her place in the final.*
- Something lost this way. *The forfeit was heavy.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb | forfeit | You forfeit the fee. |
| Past | forfeited | Forfeited the match. |
| Noun | forfeit | Pay a forfeit. |
| Noun | forfeiture | Asset forfeiture. |
| Adjective | forfeitable | Forfeitable assets. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Cancel late and you forfeit the deposit.The commonest everyday use.
- The team forfeited the game by not turning up.In sport, a forfeit is an automatic loss.
- The court ordered the forfeiture of the vehicle.Forfeiture is the legal noun.
Forfeit, fine and penalty
- Forfeit — you lose something you already had
- Fine — you pay a new sum
- Penalty — the general word for any punishment
- Confiscation — the authorities take property away
- Default — failing to meet an obligation, which often triggers a forfeit
From Old French *forfait*, a crime, from *forfaire*, to transgress, built on Latin *foris* (outside) and *facere* (to do) — to act outside the rules. Note the pronunciation: FOR-fit, with a silent *ei*.
How is forfeit pronounced?
FOR-fit. The ei is not pronounced as in *deceit*.
Forfeit or forfeiture?
Forfeit is the verb and the everyday noun. Forfeiture is the formal noun used in law.