penalty
/ˈpɛnəlti/noun
A punishment given to a player or team for breaking a rule of the game, often an advantage for the other side such as a free kick or shot.
Example sentences
- “The referee gave a penalty for a foul inside the box.”
- “He scored the winning goal from a penalty in the last minute.”
- “A two-minute penalty for tripping left his hockey team a player short.”
In soccer, 'a penalty' usually means a penalty kick, and a tied game may end in a 'penalty shootout'. Outside sports, it is any punishment for breaking a rule, such as a late-payment penalty.