penalties

The word “penalties” means plural of penalty; punishments or disadvantages imposed for breaking a rule. In plain terms, more than one penalty — either punishments, or (in sport) a shootout of penalty kicks.

“Penalties” is pronounced PEH-nuhl-teez (/ˈpɛnəltiz/ in IPA).

Here is “penalties” used in a sentence: “The match went to penalties after a scoreless draw.”

“Penalties” is a noun.

“Penalties” is a fairly common word in modern English.

A fine is one specific type of penalty: a sum of money that must be paid for breaking a rule or law. Penalties is the broader term, covering any punishment or disadvantage imposed for breaking a rule, including fines, point deductions, suspensions, and added interest.

Penalties are typically fixed consequences set out in advance by rules, laws, or contracts, such as late-payment penalties or penalties in sport. Punishment is the wider word for anything imposed on someone for wrongdoing, and it can be informal or moral as well as official.

The singular is penalty. Because penalty ends in a consonant plus -y, the plural is formed by changing the -y to -ies, giving penalties — the same pattern as city/cities and party/parties.

Both are consequences for breaking rules, but sanctions are usually measures imposed by an authority to force compliance, often against organisations or countries, as in trade sanctions. Penalties more often apply to individuals or teams and are attached to a specific rule or offence.