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Forfeiture: meaning, definitions and examples

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forfeiture

 

[ ˈfɔːrfɪtjər ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

legal term

The loss or giving up of something as a penalty for wrongdoing or a breach of rules. It can involve the confiscation or surrender of property or rights.

Synonyms

confiscation, penalty, seizure

Examples of usage

  • His assets were subject to forfeiture as a result of the criminal charges against him.
  • The court ordered the forfeiture of the illegally obtained funds.
  • The company faced forfeiture of its operating license due to violations of environmental regulations.
Context #2 | Noun

sports

The action of giving up a game or match as a result of a breach of rules or failure to meet certain conditions.

Synonyms

default, loss, surrender

Examples of usage

  • The team was forced to accept forfeiture of the match due to a violation of the rules.
  • The player's intentional violation led to the team's forfeiture of the game.

Translations

Translations of the word "forfeiture" in other languages:

🇵🇹 perda

🇮🇳 ज़ब्ती

🇩🇪 Einziehung

🇮🇩 penyitaan

🇺🇦 конфіскація

🇵🇱 konfiskata

🇯🇵 没収

🇫🇷 confiscation

🇪🇸 confiscación

🇹🇷 el koyma

🇰🇷 몰수

🇸🇦 مصادرة

🇨🇿 propadnutí

🇸🇰 konfiškácia

🇨🇳 没收

🇸🇮 zaplemba

🇮🇸 upptaka

🇰🇿 тәркілеу

🇬🇪 კონფისკაცია

🇦🇿 müsadirə

🇲🇽 confiscación

Etymology

The word 'forfeiture' originated from the Old French word 'forfeture', which meant 'crime, sin, punishment'. It entered the English language in the late 14th century with the specific legal sense of 'loss of some right or property as a penalty for wrongdoing'. The concept of forfeiture has been a part of legal systems for centuries, serving as a deterrent for misconduct and a means of enforcing compliance with laws and regulations.

See also: forfeit.

Word Frequency Rank

At #7,309 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.