noun

forfeiture

FOR-fi-chur/ˈfɔːrfɪtʃər/

Loss or surrender of property, money, or rights as a penalty.

Breaking the lease can result in forfeiture of your deposit.

A locked house key and coin purse surrendered across an official desk beside a penalty document, no readable text.

Etymology

forOld Frenchoutside, beyond

+feitOld Frenchto do, make

+ureOld Frenchact or result

The underlying image may be doing “beyond” what is right. The noun connects the wrongdoing with its consequence: loss of property, money, or rights as punishment.

In context

Lawyers Guide1:08

it is also possible to undergo forfeiture of other assets for example an investor may forfeit his or her interest in shares of stock this usually comes about because of some breach of contract

What is a Forfeiture?

More examples

The court orders forfeiture of the money obtained through fraud.
Missing the deadline leads to forfeiture of her right to appeal.
The judge approves two property forfeitures in the fraud case.

Forms

forfeiture · forfeitures

forfeit verb — Lose or surrender something as a penalty.

Similar words

confiscation: Emphasizes seizure by an authority rather than the owner's loss.
penalty: Covers any punishment, not just loss of property or rights.