penalty
UK: ˈpɛnəlti | US: ˈpɛnəlti
n. a punishment imposed for breaking a law, rule, or contract
n. (sports) a disadvantage imposed on a player or team for infringement of rules
n. a loss or handicap suffered as a result of an action
The word "penalty" originates from the Latin poena (meaning "punishment"), which passed into Old French as penalité. The root penal retains its core meaning of punishment, while the suffix -ty (from Latin -tas) forms abstract nouns. The term evolved in Middle English to specifically denote legal or contractual consequences, later extending to sports contexts. The logic is straightforward: penal (punishment) + -ty (state/condition) = "the state of being punished."
The penalty for late submission is a 10% grade reduction.
The referee awarded a penalty kick after the foul.
He paid a hefty financial penalty for violating the agreement.
The new law imposes stricter penalties for environmental crimes.
Accepting the job offer came with the penalty of relocating abroad.