ForfeitureLoss of property or rights as punishment for breaking a rule. refers to losing something because of a penaltyA punishment or cost imposed for breaking rules or failing duties., fault, or failure to meet a requirementSomething that must be done or met to qualify or continue.. It can also mean the thing that is lost, or the penalty itself.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈfɔr.fə.tʃər/
Easy pronunciation: FOR-fuh-chur (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress is on the first syllable: FOR.
Used as a noun meaning the act of losing something as a penalty.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Forfeiture Meaning
losing something because of a penalty
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the act of losing or giving up something as a penalty for a fault, mistake, or failure to do what was required
Example: The contract warned that late payment could lead to forfeiture of the deposit.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- forfeit — Works as a close substitute for the act of losing something as a penalty.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Forfeiture
Meaning 2
the thing that is lost as a penalty
Part of speech: noun
Definition: something that is lost or surrendered as a penalty
Example: The team faced forfeiture of its prize after the rules breach was discovered.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- forfeit — Used for the thing that is lost or surrendered.
Meaning 3
a penalty that makes you give something up
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a penalty that requires someone to lose or give up something
Example: Missing the filing deadline can result in forfeiture of your rights to appeal.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- forfeit — Can name the penalty itself in some contexts.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Forfeiture Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- forfeit
the thing that is lost or surrendered as a penalty
- forfeit
the penalty that causes someone to lose or give up something
- forfeit
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using forfeiture to mean a voluntary sacrifice
- Confusing forfeiture with forfeit, which can also refer to the penalty or the thing lost
- Using it for any kind of loss, even when no penalty is involved
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does forfeiture mean?
Forfeiture means losing something because of a penalty, fault, or failure to meet a condition. It can also refer to the thing lost or the penalty itself.
Is forfeiture the same as forfeit?
They are closely related. Forfeit is the more common everyday word; forfeiture is the noun often used in legal or formal contexts.
What are the best synonyms for forfeiture?
For the main sense, the closest synonym is forfeit. Sacrifice is usually not a true synonym because it implies a voluntary choice.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-13. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.