a heavy fine

USAGE SUMMARY

'a heavy fine' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a punishment a person must pay for committing a crime or breaking a law. For example, "He was sentenced to a year in prison and a heavy fine for his part in the embezzlement scandal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He could face jail and a heavy fine.

The Guardian

If the contamination is first detected at the plant, the farm incurs a heavy fine.

Cornell University

They all knew they were risking arrest and a heavy fine, yet they kept coming.

The New York Times

If found guilty, she could receive 40 lashes and a heavy fine.

The Economist

After paying a heavy fine in a libel judgment, Cobbett returned to England in 1800.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Dumped refuse (also known as fly-tipping) is illegal and now carries a heavy fine.

The Guardian

If she rules against him, the S.E.C. may impose a heavy fine.

The New York Times

He was given a two-year suspended sentence and a heavy fine.

The New York Times

"If you cheat, you will get a heavy fine," Ms. Kroes said at a news conference.

The New York Times

PSG, along with Manchester City, were handed a heavy fine in May for breaching FFP regulations.

The Guardian - Sport

He has been sentenced to ten years in jail and 1,000 lashes, plus a heavy fine.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about legal or financial repercussions, use "a heavy fine" to clearly convey the severity of the penalty imposed.

Common error

Avoid using "a heavy fine" when a smaller penalty is more accurate. Using stronger language than necessary can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a heavy fine" functions primarily as a noun phrase, acting as the object of a verb or the complement of a preposition. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase describes a significant monetary penalty, often imposed as a result of legal or regulatory infractions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

81%

Academia

7%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Wiki

2%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a heavy fine" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a substantial financial penalty. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is widely used in various contexts, particularly in news and media, to convey the severity of legal or regulatory consequences. While alternatives like "a substantial penalty" or "a significant monetary penalty" exist, "a heavy fine" remains a straightforward and effective way to communicate the magnitude of a financial punishment. When using the phrase, it's important to ensure that the context aligns with the severity implied by the term "heavy" to maintain accuracy and credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a substantial penalty

Replaces "fine" with "penalty" and "heavy" with "substantial", altering the emphasis slightly.

a stiff financial penalty

Uses "stiff" instead of "heavy", suggesting a more rigid or severe punishment.

a significant monetary penalty

Specifies the penalty as monetary and uses "significant" to indicate the amount.

a large financial sanction

Uses "sanction" instead of "fine" and "large" to describe the amount, indicating a more formal context.

a considerable levy

Replaces "fine" with "levy", implying a tax or charge, and "heavy" with "considerable".

a hefty financial burden

Shifts the focus to the burden imposed by the fine, using "hefty" to emphasize the size.

a punitive surcharge

Emphasizes the punitive nature of the fine, using "surcharge" to indicate an additional charge.

a crippling financial imposition

Highlights the potentially damaging effect of the fine, using "crippling" for emphasis.

a severe monetary exaction

Uses more formal and legalistic terms, indicating a demanded payment.

a costly pecuniary consequence

Emphasizes the financial consequence, using formal vocabulary.

FAQs

How to use "a heavy fine" in a sentence?

You can use "a heavy fine" to describe a significant financial penalty, for example: "The company received "a heavy fine" for violating environmental regulations."

What can I say instead of "a heavy fine"?

You can use alternatives like "a substantial penalty", "a significant monetary penalty", or "a stiff financial penalty" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "a heavy fine" or "a hefty fine"?

Both "a heavy fine" and "a hefty fine" are correct and commonly used. They both convey the idea of a significant financial penalty. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference.

What's the difference between "a fine" and "a heavy fine"?

The term "fine" refers to any financial penalty. Adding the adjective "heavy" specifies that the fine is of a considerable or significant amount. Therefore, ""a heavy fine"" indicates a larger and more impactful penalty.