# penalize

/ˈpɛnəˌɫaɪz/ (US) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/penalize
Updated: 2026-05-28

## Definition

to punish someone or a team for breaking a rule. In sports, this usually means taking away points or giving a time penalty.

For teachers: to impose a penalty or punishment for a specific infraction. Often used in the context of sports or legal systems to describe the formal consequence of a rule violation.

## Examples

- The referee decided to penalize the team for the foul.
- The committee will penalize any member who fails to submit their annual report by the deadline.
- While the league aims to penalize aggressive play, the subjective nature of the calls often leads to heated debates among fans and analysts alike.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.