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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