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Noun: penalty  pen(u)ltee
  1. The act of punishing
    - punishment, penalization, penalisation [Brit]
     
  2. A payment required for not fulfilling a contract
     
  3. The disadvantage or painful consequences of an action or condition
    "neglected his health and paid the penalty"
     
  4. (games) a handicap or disadvantage that is imposed on a competitor (or a team) for an infraction of the rules of the game

Derived forms: penalties

See also: penalise [Brit]

Type of: disadvantage, handicap, payment, social control

Antonym: reward

Encyclopedia: Penalty