/ ˈpenəlti; NAmE / noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
penalty (for sth) a punishment for breaking a law, rule or contract :
to impose a penalty
Assault carries a maximum penalty of seven years' imprisonment.
The penalty for travelling without a ticket is £200.
Contractors who fall behind schedule incur heavy financial penalties.
a penalty clause in a contract
You can withdraw money from the account at any time without penalty .
—see also death penalty
2.
penalty (of sth) a disadvantage suffered as a result of sth :
One of the penalties of fame is loss of privacy.
3.
( in sports and games ) a disadvantage given to a player or a team when they break a rule :
He incurred a ten-second penalty in the first round.
4.
( in football ( soccer ) and some other similar sports ) a chance to score a goal or point without any defending players, except the goalkeeper , trying to stop it; the goal or point that is given if it is successful. This chance is given because the other team has broken the rules :
Two minutes later Ford equalized with a penalty.
We were awarded a penalty after a late tackle.
I volunteered to take the penalty (= be the person who tries to score the goal / point)
He missed a penalty in the last minute of the game.
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IDIOMS
see pay verb
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WORD ORIGIN
early 16th cent.: probably via Anglo-Norman French , from medieval Latin poenalitas , based on poena pain.