forfeiture

UK/ˈfɔːfɪtʃə/US/ˈfɔɹfɪt͡ʃɚ/

nounC2Rare in speech; mostly a word you read · #12,857 of 15,258leans written

Other forms: forfeitures

Forfeiture is the loss of property or a right as a penalty. Forfeiture of the deposit, asset forfeiture, avoid forfeiture.

In criminal law it is how the proceeds of crime are taken, and in some countries property can be forfeited without anybody being convicted, which is much argued about. In leases it is the landlord's right to end the tenancy for breach.

Definitions of forfeiture

1nounforfeitureThe loss of property or a right as a penalty.C2
“Failure to pay the tax could result in forfeiture of the property.”

forfeiture is a loss.

Where it comes from

Old French forfaiture comes from forfaire, to do wrong or transgress.

Old French
forfaiture
Middle English
forfeture
English, today
forfeiture

From Middle English forfeture, from Old French forfaiture.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practise this word

forfeiture in the wild

Declaration and forfeiture are covered in Law 15 of the Laws of Cricket.
Declaration and forfeiture
The alleged purpose of asset forfeiture is to disrupt criminal activity by confiscating assets that potentially could have been beneficial to the individual or organization.
Asset forfeiture
Due to the forfeiture, the official score was set at LSU 6, Tulane 0 by the game's referee.
1896 Tulane Olive and Blue football team
Civil forfeiture is not considered to be an example of a criminal justice financial obligation.
Civil forfeiture in the United States
Civil forfeitures are subject to the "excessive fines" clause of the U.S.
Civil forfeiture in the United States

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From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

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