forfeit

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.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔː.fɪt/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈfɔɹ.fɪt/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɔː(ɹ)fɪt

forfeit (countable and uncountable, plural forfeits)

1. A penalty for or consequence of a misdemeanor.
   • 1629, John Milton, On the Morning of Christ's Nativity:

     That he our deadly forfeit should release

2. A thing forfeited; that which is taken from somebody in requital of a misdeed committed; that which is lost, or the right to which is alienated, by a crime, breach of contract, etc.

   He who murders pays the forfeit of his own life.

   • c. 1603–1604 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Measure for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal / Remit thy other forfeits.

3. Something deposited and redeemable by a sportive fine as part of a game.
   • 1766, [Oliver Goldsmith], The Vicar of Wakefield: , volume (please specify |volume=I or II), Salisbury, Wiltshire: B. Collins, for F Newbery, , →OCLC:

     Country dances and forfeits shortened the rest of the day.

4. (obsolete, rare) Injury; wrong; mischief.
   • a. 1789, Barry St. Leger, Siege of Nicopolis

     to seek arms upon people and country that never did us any forfeit

forfeit (third-person singular simple present forfeits, present participle forfeiting, simple past and past participle forfeited or (rare) forfeit)

1. To suffer the loss of something by wrongdoing or non-compliance

   He forfeited his last chance of an early release from jail by repeatedly attacking another inmate.

2. To lose a contest, game, match, or other form of competition by voluntary withdrawal, by failing to attend or participate, or by violation of the rules

   Because only nine players were present, the football team was forced to forfeit the game.

3. To be guilty of a misdeed; to be criminal; to transgress.
4. To fail to keep an obligation.
   • c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies  (First Folio), London: Isaac Iaggard, and Ed Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, :

     I will have the heart of him if he forfeit.

5. (law) Of government officials: to legally remove property from its previous owners.
   • 2024 January 23, Judge Milan D. Smith, Jr., Snitko v. United States‎, archived from the original on 2024-01-24:

     After the raid on USPV, Plaintiffs filed claims with the FBI seeking return of their seized property. The government did not return the property in response to these claims; instead, it indicated that it was seeking to forfeit the property.

• (lose a contest): capitulate, surrender, disqualify
• (voluntarily give up): forgo, withgo

forfeit (not comparable)

1. Lost or alienated for an offense or crime; liable to penal seizure.
   • 1867, Ralph Waldo Emerson, May-Day:

     to tread the forfeit paradise

• toffier