Phrase guide

penalty box

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

An enclosed bench where a player must remain for timed period (a penalty) that is assessed after an infraction.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: hobbies, ice-hockey, lifestyle, skating, sports

Examples

  • Both players got to cool their heels for five minutes in their respective penalty boxes after the fight.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

The penalty area.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: ball-games, games, hobbies, lifestyle, soccer, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A temporary punishment, or, metaphorically, a similar setback (e.g., loss of control, embarrassment, etc.).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, idiomatic

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

(ice hockey) an enclosed bench to the side of an ice-hockey rink for players who are serving time penalties

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: bench

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

13 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: banqueta d'expulsats — in ice hockey, enclosed bench for serving a penalty
  • Czech: trestná lavice — in ice hockey, enclosed bench for serving a penalty
  • Dutch: strafbank — in ice hockey, enclosed bench for serving a penalty
  • Finnish: rangaistusaitio — in ice hockey, enclosed bench for serving a penalty
  • Finnish: jäähyaitio — in ice hockey, enclosed bench for serving a penalty
  • French: banc des pénalités — in ice hockey, enclosed bench for serving a penalty
  • Irish: loca pionóis — in ice hockey, enclosed bench for serving a penalty
  • Irish: póna peacaí — in ice hockey, enclosed bench for serving a penalty
  • Russian: скаме́йка штрафников (skaméjka štrafnikov) — in ice hockey, enclosed bench for serving a penalty
  • Russian: скаме́йка для оштрафованных игроков (skaméjka dlja oštrafovannyx igrokov) — in ice hockey, enclosed bench for serving a penalty
  • Russian: скаме́йка для плохих парней (skaméjka dlja ploxix parnej) — in ice hockey, enclosed bench for serving a penalty
  • Swedish: utvisningsbås — in ice hockey, enclosed bench for serving a penalty
  • Swedish: bås — in ice hockey, enclosed bench for serving a penalty