Word
forfeit
Phoneticsfor·feit, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈfɔɹfɪt/
UK/fˈɔːfɪt/
Definitions
01to lose a right or possession
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to lose something or give up the right to it because you did something wrong or broke a rule.
v. to lose a right, property, or privilege as a consequence of a crime, error, or breach of contract. Transitive; requires a direct object.
“If you do not pay the taxes on time, you might forfeit your right to the property.”
“The defendant was warned that any further violation of the bail conditions would cause him to forfeit his bond entirely.”
Synonyms
02to give up a game
B2 · Upper Intermediate Sports
v. to lose a game or competition because you cannot play or because you broke the rules.
v. to lose a contest by voluntary withdrawal, failure to attend, or violation of competition rules.
“The team had to forfeit the match because three of their players were sick.”
“After the scandal was uncovered, the committee ruled that the athlete must forfeit all medals won during the previous season.”
03a penalty
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law Formal
n. something that you must give up as a punishment for a mistake or for breaking a rule.
n. a fine or a penalty for a fault, misdeed, or breach of contract.
“The contract states that the forfeit for leaving the job early is one month's salary.”
“The magistrate imposed a heavy forfeit on the company for its failure to comply with environmental safety regulations.”
04lost as a penalty
C2 · Proficiency Formal · Technical
adj. describes something that has been taken away as a punishment.
adj. lost or alienated for an offence or crime; liable to seizure by authority.
“The judge declared that the stolen goods were now forfeit to the state.”
“Under the terms of the ancient treaty, the lands were declared forfeit to the crown upon the death of the last heir.”
Synonyms
Usage
The verb is transitive and takes a direct object; frequently used in legal, sporting, and formal contexts.
Pitfall
he was forfeited his right
he forfeited his right
Forfeit is an active verb where the subject loses the object; it is not typically used in the passive 'to be forfeited' when referring to the person losing the item.
Real-World Examples
“Who would want to forfeit their freedom and have purposes imposed on them from outside?” “Joanna Wietrzyk has also forfeited her win in the fitness competition after competing last week.” Etymology
From Middle English forfait from ca. 1300, from Old French forfait (“crime”), originally the past participle of forfaire (“to transgress”), and Medieval Latin foris factum. During the 15th century, the sense shifted from the crime to the penalty for the crime.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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