What does forfeited mean?
'Forfeited' is the past tense and past participle of the verb 'forfeit', describing something — a right, possession, privilege, or opportunity — that has been lost or surrendered as a penalty for a fault, rule violation, or unmet obligation. A player who misses a match may have forfeited the game; a defendant who skips bail has forfeited their money; an employee who breaches a contract may have forfeited certain benefits. The word appears most often in legal, sporting, and financial contexts, where consequences are formal and binding. It carries an inherently negative connotation: the loss is not accidental but incurred through one's own action or negligence, which gives the word a moral undertone of accountability. As an adjective, 'forfeited' describes property or rights already surrendered, such as 'forfeited assets'. Derived ultimately from medieval Latin roots meaning to transgress, the term reflects centuries of legal tradition, making it a precise and useful word wherever rules carry penalties.
To lose or be required to give up something — such as a right, asset, or advantage — as a penalty for a fault, breach, or failure to fulfil an obligation; to lose a contest by default.
"They forfeited the tie when they failed to arrive before kickoff."
Almost always used in formal legal, sporting, or contractual settings; the loss is understood to result from the subject's own fault.
Describing something that has been surrendered or lost under penalty, e.g. 'forfeited property'.
"The auction house sold off the forfeited vehicles at public sale."
The word 'forfeit' literally means done 'outside the law' — in medieval times, committing a crime meant your property was placed outside your reach forever.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of forfeited
'Forfeited' derives from the verb 'forfeit', which entered English in medieval times from Old French 'forfait', meaning a crime or misdeed. This in turn came from medieval Latin 'forisfacere', literally 'to act outside the law' — 'foris' meaning 'outside'. In feudal law, committing such an offence placed a person's property outside their lawful keeping, hence the sense of loss as punishment. The same Latin root 'foris' gave English other words including 'foreign', 'forensic', and 'forest', all carrying that notion of being outside.
Related word forms
How forfeited is actually used
Commonly used in legal, sporting, and contractual contexts. The past participle often appears passively ('his rights were forfeited'), while as an adjective it describes things already lost ('forfeited property'). The tone is typically formal and carries a negative connotation of loss brought about by one's own fault.
Easily confused with forfeited
'Forfeited' means losing something as a penalty for breaking a rule or obligation, while 'foreclosed' refers specifically to a lender seizing property after missed loan payments.