Penalty

n. [Contracted from penalty, q. v.] 1. Penal retribution; punishment for crime or offense; the suffering in person or property which is annexed by law or judicial decision to the commission of a crime, offense, or trespass. Obedience to the law of God, imposed On penalty of death. Milton. 2. The suffering to which a person subjects himself by covenant or agreement, in case of non-fulfillment of stipulations; forfeiture; fine. “The penalty and forfeit of my bond.” Shak. ☞ The term penalty is mostly applied to a pecuniary punishment. On or under penalty of, on pain of; with exposure, in case of transgression, to the penalty of.