Forfeiture
/ˈfɔː(r)fɪtʃər/
Definitions
The act of losing something or the thing that is lost, typically because of a crime, error, or breach of contract.
/ˈfɔː(r)fɪtʃər/
The loss or giving up of something as a penalty for wrongdoing or failure to fulfill an obligation.
The company faced forfeiture of its license for violating environmental regulations.
💡 Simply: Imagine you break a promise, and as a result, you have to give up something you really wanted. That's forfeiture! It's like a punishment for not following the rules or not doing what you agreed to.
👶 For kids: Losing something because you did something wrong.
More Examples
The court ordered the forfeiture of the criminal's ill-gotten gains.
Failure to pay the mortgage resulted in the forfeiture of the property.
How It's Used
"The forfeiture of assets was part of the court's ruling."
"He faced forfeiture of his investments due to the company's bankruptcy."
"The team suffered a forfeiture of the game due to player eligibility issues."
Idioms & expressions
risk forfeiture
To be in a situation where something can be taken away or lost because of a decision or action.
"By violating the terms of the agreement, the company risked forfeiture of its assets."
subject to forfeiture
Capable of being lost or taken away as a penalty.
"The property is subject to forfeiture if the taxes are not paid."
From Anglo-Norman forfet, forfeture, from Old French forfet (a crime, offense, misdeed), from forfaire (to forfeit, transgress).
The term has been used in legal contexts for centuries, often related to property, rights, or privileges being lost due to a breach of contract or law.
Memory tip
Think of losing something valuable, like a prize, because you broke the rules.