YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

forfeit

Verb

IPA /ˈfɔːfɪt/

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Meaning in plain English

To lose something because you have broken a rule or failed to meet a condition.

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Pronunciation

forfeit/ˈfɔːfɪt/

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A game has a clear condition
A player breaks that condition
The player loses their turn

To forfeit a turn is to lose it as a consequence of a rule or condition.

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Examples in context

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Under the game's rules, I forfeited my turn by looking at the answer.
The competition rules said that late entrants would forfeit their place.

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The competition rules said that late entrants would ________ their place.

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forfeit — To lose something because you have broken a rule or failed to meet a condition.

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To lose something because you have broken a rule or failed to meet a condition.

Compare: Under the game's rules, I forfeited my turn by looking at the answer.

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Word origin

From Old French forfet, related to forfaire, meaning to transgress.

Did you know?

Forfeit can refer to losing money, a right, a place or an opportunity.

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