Definitions for penalty

Overview of noun penalty

The noun penalty has 4 senses? (first 3 from tagged texts)

1. (6) punishment, penalty, penalization, penalisation

(the act of punishing)

2. (1) penalty

(a payment required for not fulfilling a contract)

3. (1) penalty

(the disadvantage or painful consequences of an action or condition; "neglected his health and paid the penalty")

4. penalty

((games) a handicap or disadvantage that is imposed on a competitor (or a team) for an infraction of the rules of the game)