Penalty - Definition

n 1: the act of punishing [syn: punishment, penalty,
penalization, penalisation]
2: a payment required for not fulfilling a contract
3: the disadvantage or painful consequences of an action or
condition; "neglected his health and paid the penalty" [ant:
advantage, reward]
4: (games) a handicap or disadvantage that is imposed on a
competitor (or a team) for an infraction of the rules of the
game