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Forfeit vs Default - What's the difference?

forfeit | default |

As nouns the difference between default and forfeit

is that default is the condition of failing to meet an obligation while forfeit is a penalty for or consequence of a misdemeanor.

As verbs the difference between default and forfeit

is that default is to fail to meet an obligation while forfeit is to suffer the loss of something by wrongdoing or non-compliance.

As an adjective forfeit is

lost or alienated for an offense or crime; liable to penal seizure.

forfeit

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A penalty for or consequence of a misdemeanor.
    • That he our deadly forfeit should release'' (John Milton, ''On the Morning of Christ's Nativity , 1629)
  • A thing forfeited; that which is taken from somebody in requital of a misdeed committed; that which is lost, or the right to which is alienated, by a crime, breach of contract, etc.
    • He who murders pays the forfeit of his own life.
  • * Shakespeare
    • Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal / Remit thy other forfeits .
  • Something deposited and redeemable by a sportive fine as part of a game.
  • * Goldsmith
    • Country dances and forfeits shortened the rest of the day.
  • (obsolete, rare) Injury; wrong; mischief.
  • * Ld. Berners
    • to seek arms upon people and country that never did us any forfeit

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To suffer the loss of something by wrongdoing or non-compliance
    • He forfeited his last chance of an early release from jail by repeatedly attacking another inmate.
  • To lose a contest, game, match, or other form of competition by voluntary withdrawal, by failing to attend or participate, or by violation of the rules
    • Because only nine players were present, the football team was forced to forfeit the game.
  • To be guilty of a misdeed; to be criminal; to transgress.
  • To fail to keep an obligation.
  • * Shakespeare
    • I will have the heart of him if he forfeit .

    Usage notes

    * Very rarely, forfeit is used as the past tense form and past participle (i.e., the past tense forms and the present tense form are homographs).

    Synonyms

    * (lose a contest) capitulate, surrender * (voluntarily give up) forgo, withgo

    Derived terms

    * forfeits * nonforfeited * nonforfeiting * nonforfeiture

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Lost or alienated for an offense or crime; liable to penal seizure.
  • * Shakespeare
    • thy wealth being forfeit to the state
  • * Emerson
    • to tread the forfeit paradise
    English irregular verbs English verbs with base form identical to past participle English words not following the I before E except after C rule

    default

    English

    (wikipedia default)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (finance) The condition of failing to meet an obligation.
    • He failed to make payments on time and is now in default .
    You may cure this default by paying the full amount within a week.
  • (electronics, computing) the original software programming settings as set by the factory
  • A loss incurred by failing to compete.
    • The team's three losses include one default .
  • A selection made in the absence of an alternative.
    • ''The man became the leader of the group as a default .
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2011 , date=December 15 , author=Felicity Cloake , title=How to cook the perfect nut roast , work=Guardian citation , page= , passage=One of the darlings of the early vegetarian movement (particularly in its even sadder form, the cutlet), it was on the menu at John Harvey Kellogg's Battle Creek Sanitarium [sic], and has since become the default Sunday option for vegetarians – and a default source of derision for everyone else.}}
  • (often, attributive) A value used when none has been given; a tentative value or standard that is presumed.
    • If you don't specify a number of items, the default is 1.
  • (legal) The failure of a defendant to appear and answer a summons and complaint.
  • (obsolete) A failing or failure; omission of that which ought to be done; neglect to do what duty or law requires.
    • This evil has happened through the governor's default .
  • (obsolete) Fault; offence; wrong act.
  • * Spenser
    • And pardon craved for his so rash default .
  • * Alexander Pope
    • regardless of our merit or default

    Related terms

    * by default

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To fail to meet an obligation.
    • If you do not make your payments, you will default on your loan.
  • To lose a competition by failing to compete.
    • If you refuse to wear a proper uniform, you will not be allowed to compete and will default this match.
  • (computing) To assume a value when none was given; to presume a tentative value or standard.
    • If you don't specify a number of items, it defaults to 1.
  • (legal) To fail to appear and answer a summons and complaint.

    • Related terms

    * by default * default on * in default

    Anagrams

    * ----