Etymologically
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penalty

Etymology and origin of the English word penalty

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
1512
Borrowed from
Old French penalite
Ultimate origin
Medieval Latin (poenalitas)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈpen.əl.ti/[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Old French penalite and directly from Medieval Latin penalitas,[2][3][4] probably through Anglo-Norman French,[5] from Latin poenālis “relating to punishment”,[2][3] from poena “punishment, pain”.[5][4] It is related to penal, pain and punish.[2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

A punishment for breaking a law, rule or contract: 1512 in the OED, about 1500 in Etymonline.[6][2] MWU dates its first known use to the 15th century.[3]

Semantic evolution

Pain or suffering, a rare sense, is from 1513 and obsolete.[6] On penalty of is from 1560.[6] The figurative sense, a disadvantage resulting from an action, is from 1664.[6] In sport, a disadvantage imposed for breaking the rules is by 1885, and a penalty kick or penalty goal from 1905.[6][2] In bridge, points added to the opponents' score are from 1908,[6] and the penalty box in ice hockey is by 1931.[2]

Timeline

  • 1512 – a legal punishment.[6]
  • 1664 – a resulting disadvantage.[6]
  • 1885 – in sport.[6][2]
  • 1905 – penalty kick.[6]
  • 1931 – penalty box.[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A punishment for breaking a law or rule, especially a fine.
  2. A disadvantage or unpleasant result of an action or situation.
  3. (sports) A disadvantage given to a player or team for breaking a rule, or a free shot at goal awarded to the other side.

Word family

  • death penalty
  • minor penalty
  • penalty area
  • penalty box
  • penalty kick
  • penalty shot
  • penal
  • penalize
  • pain
  • punish

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c Klein, Ernest. A Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. 2 vols. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 1966–1967.
  5. ^ a b Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Penalty.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/penalty. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·