WordWeb Online

1. Something (e.g. imprisonment or paying a fine) someone is made to do to compensate for a wrongdoing, especially for crime; the act of punishing
   - punishment, penalization, penalisation [Brit], sanction
    
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
    
5. (soccer) a free kick from a spot marked in front of the goal, defended only by the goalkeeper
   - penalty kick

Derived forms: penalties

Type of: disadvantage, handicap, payment, social control

Antonym: reward

Encyclopedia: Penalty