Financial penalty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Financial penalty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts related to legal, regulatory, or contractual obligations where a monetary fine is imposed for non-compliance or wrongdoing. Example: "The company faced a significant financial penalty for violating environmental regulations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

Chevron's financial penalty is by far the largest of the five.

The New York Times

Companies Falsely Labeled Products Madee in U.S.A.' Their Financial Penalty? $0.

The New York Times

In fact, he was fined £642,430, but no financial penalty was imposed on Barclays.

The Guardian - Business

If the I.R.S. rulings stand, Tribune will face a big financial penalty that it had not counted on.

The New York Times

Update: Added explanation for why Facebook – unlike Google – doesn't face a financial penalty at this point.

TechCrunch

Last year's GOP tax bill eliminated the financial penalty for people who don't get insurance.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

(c)Criminal penalty.

Cornell University

§ 1312.16 Civil penalty amounts.

Cornell University

Bath: Penalty Ford; Drop goals Ford (2).

Independent

18 CFR § 1312.16 - Civil penalty amounts.

Cornell University

When do the TANF penalty provisions apply?

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In business contexts, "financial penalty" can refer to contractual penalties for failing to meet obligations.

Common error

Avoid using "financial penalty" interchangeably with terms like "economic sanction" or "reputational damage". A "financial penalty" specifically refers to a monetary fine, whereas other terms encompass broader consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "financial penalty" primarily functions as a noun phrase. As seen in Ludwig, it often acts as the object of a verb or follows a preposition, denoting a specific type of consequence or punishment involving money.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Academia

23%

Science

18%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "financial penalty" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase referring to a monetary consequence for non-compliance or violation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is considered correct and usable in written English. It is most commonly found in news, academic, and scientific contexts, with authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian frequently employing the phrase. Alternatives include "monetary sanction" and "fine", but "financial penalty" is often preferred in formal settings for its precision. When using this phrase, ensure it aligns with contexts involving legal, regulatory, or contractual obligations to avoid confusion with broader concepts like reputational damage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

monetary sanction

Focuses specifically on the monetary aspect of the penalty, often used in formal or legal contexts.

financial sanction

Similar to "financial penalty", but carries a slightly stronger implication of official or regulatory action.

fine

A more general term for a sum of money paid as a penalty.

pecuniary punishment

Emphasizes the punitive nature and the relation with money.

monetary levy

Implies a formal imposition or assessment of a financial charge.

economic penalty

Broadens the scope to include economic consequences beyond just monetary fines.

fiscal penalty

Similar to "financial penalty" but gives emphasis to government and taxes.

charge

A payment asked for goods or services.

fee

A payment to professionals or in exchange for some rights.

damage

A payment in exchange of a material or immaterial damage.

FAQs

How is a "financial penalty" different from a fine?

While both refer to monetary payments, a "financial penalty" /s/financial+penalty often implies a more formal or regulatory context, whereas a fine can be a more general term.

What are some alternatives to "financial penalty"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "monetary sanction", "fiscal penalty", or "pecuniary punishment".

In what situations is it appropriate to use the term "financial penalty"?

The term "financial penalty" is appropriate in contexts involving legal, regulatory, or contractual breaches where a specific monetary payment is required as a consequence.

Can "financial penalty" be used in informal writing?

While grammatically correct, "financial penalty" is more suited for formal or professional contexts. In informal writing, simpler terms like "fine" or "charge" may be more appropriate.