French Conversation · Level 100
59 words
French word
pénalité
Pronunciation
IPA/penalite/
Meaning
- feminine nounpenalty
Example
Le règlement prévoit une pénalité en cas d'infraction.
The regulation provides for a penalty in the event of a violation.
More examples
Si vous signez le contrat après la date limite, il y aura une pénalité.
If you sign the contract after the deadline, there will be a penalty.
Core concept
A breached rule sending a financial charge or formal consequence back to the person responsible.
Common phrases
une pénalité de retard
a late fee
contester une pénalité
dispute a penalty
annuler la pénalité
cancel a penalty
Similar words
amende: A monetary punishment imposed by an authority for an offense.
sanction: A punishment or disciplinary measure imposed under organizational rules or law.
punition: A penalty given to teach or discipline someone for wrongdoing.
peine: A legal punishment imposed for a crime or serious violation.
Definition in French
Sanction imposée en cas de non-respect d'une règle, d'une loi ou d'un contrat, pouvant prendre la forme d'une amende ou d'une sanction disciplinaire.
Word origin
French pénalité comes through Medieval Latin poenalitas from Latin poenalis, built on poena, 'punishment', and shares this root with peine and pénal.
Usage tips
- In legal and contractual French, amende usually denotes a fine, whereas pénalité can also designate a non-monetary or contract-based consequence.
Other meanings
- finenoun
- contractual penaltynoun
Opposites
- récompenserewardnoun
Related words
- pénalisablepenalizableadjective
- pénalisationpenalizationnoun