• (RP) IPA: /ˈfɔː.fɪt/
• (America) IPA: /ˈfɔɹ.fɪt/

forfeit

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, William Shakespeare, “Measvre for Measure”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act V, scene i]:

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

3. Something deposited and redeemable by a sportive fine as part of a game.

   • Country dances and forfeits shortened the rest of the day.

4. (obsolete, rare) Injury; wrong; mischief.

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

• Portuguese: penalidade
• Russian: распла́та
• Spanish: penalización

forfeit (forfeits, present participle forfeiting; past and past participle forfeited)

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, William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act III, scene i]:

     I will have the heart of him if he forfeit.

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

• French: perdre
• German: verwirken
• Portuguese: perder
• Russian: утра́чивать
• Spanish: perder

• French: abandonner, déclarer forfait
• German: aufgeben
• Portuguese: render-se, desistir
• Russian: сдава́ться
• Spanish: (se) rendir

forfeit (not comparable)

1. Lost or alienated for an offense or crime; liable to penal seizure.

   • to tread the forfeit paradise