French word

pénaliser

Pronunciation

IPA/penalize/

Meaning

  • verbpunish

Example

Le professeur a pénalisé l'élève pour tricher.

The teacher punished the student for cheating.

Illustration for pénaliser (punish)

More examples

Le patron a pénalisé l'employé en réduisant sa prime.

The boss penalized the employee by reducing his bonus.

Core concept

A penalty is placed on someone, reducing what they can keep or obtain.

Common phrases

  • pénaliser quelqu'un

    penalize someone

  • pénaliser un joueur

    penalize a player

  • pénaliser financièrement

    financially penalize

Similar words

sanctionner: To punish a rule violation with an official penalty or other measure.
punir: To punish someone for doing something wrong.
désavantager: To limit someone's benefits or opportunities, putting them at a disadvantage.
infliger: To inflict a punishment or harm on someone.

Definition in French

Mettre quelqu'un en situation de pénalité, par exemple en lui infligeant une amende, une sanction ou une perte d'avantage.

Word origin

The verb comes from pénal plus -iser; pénal derives from Latin poenalis, based on poena, the word for punishment or penalty.

Usage tips

  • The passive être pénalisé often means being put at a disadvantage, even when no fine or formal punishment is involved.

Other meanings

  • fineverb
  • disadvantageverb

Opposites

Related words

  • pénalisationpenalizationnoun
  • pénalisépenalizedadjective
  • pénalisablepenalizableadjective

Word lists with this word