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Word a Day

penalty

noun · /ˈpɛnəlti/ · Level 1 · Starter

What does penalty mean?

penalty (noun): a punishment for violating rules of procedure.

Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

How do you pronounce penalty?

/ˈpɛnəlti/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.

Where does penalty come from?

From Middle French pénalité, from pénal.

Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

What are synonyms of penalty?

From Princeton WordNet 3.1.

Test yourself: do you know “penalty”?

Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.

What does “penalty” mean?

a fully developed person from maturity onward

Not quite: that's what adult means.

a punishment for violating rules of procedure

Right! That's what “penalty” means.

the state of being free from danger or injury

Not quite: that's what security means.

the day immediately before today; one day ago

Not quite: that's what yesterday means.

Which word is closest in meaning to “penalty”?

punishment

Right!

difference

Not quite: difference means something else.

department

Not quite: department means something else.

population

Not quite: population means something else.

Learn a word like “penalty” every day

Word a Day for iPhone quizzes you on a few new words a day and brings each one back for review at growing intervals. Free, no account, no ads.

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