minor penalty: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low-medium (highly frequent in sports contexts, rare elsewhere)Specialist/Technical (ice hockey), Informal (extended use)
Quick answer
What does “minor penalty” mean?
A disciplinary punishment in ice hockey of a short duration, typically two minutes, during which the penalized player's team must play short-handed.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A disciplinary punishment in ice hockey of a short duration, typically two minutes, during which the penalized player's team must play short-handed.
A relatively small or insignificant punishment or negative consequence in any context, especially one that is temporary and has a limited impact.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Identical in technical hockey usage. The extended, metaphorical use is more common in North America, likely due to hockey's cultural prominence there.
Connotations
In hockey contexts, purely technical. In extended use, can carry a slightly informal, sports-derived connotation of a temporary setback.
Frequency
Virtually exclusive to North America and other ice hockey-playing nations (e.g., parts of Northern Europe). Rare in UK outside of sports reporting on ice hockey.
Grammar
How to Use “minor penalty” in a Sentence
[Team/Player] takes/serves/gets a minor penalty for [infraction]The referee calls/assesses a minor penalty on [Team/Player]A minor penalty results from [action]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “minor penalty” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The referee is about to minor-penalise the goaltender for delay of game. (very rare, non-standard)
American English
- The official is going to call a minor penalty on the defender. (verb phrase with 'call')
adjective
British English
- The minor-penalty call was controversial. (compound adjective)
American English
- The minor penalty kill was successful. (attributive noun)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphor: 'The regulatory fine was just a minor penalty and didn't affect their quarterly earnings.'
Academic
Rare. Possible in sports science: 'The effect of serving a minor penalty on team performance metrics was analysed.'
Everyday
Metaphor: 'Forgetting my wallet was a minor penalty—I had to go back home, but I wasn't late.'
Technical
Ice hockey: 'A minor penalty for slashing shall be assessed under Rule 61.1.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “minor penalty”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “minor penalty”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “minor penalty”
- Using 'minor penalty' to mean a fine for a juvenile offender (that would be a 'penalty for a minor'). Confusing it with 'major penalty.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A standard minor penalty is two minutes. The penalized player serves the full time unless the opposing team scores a power-play goal, in which case the penalty ends early.
Yes, but it's a metaphorical extension. It refers to any relatively small, temporary setback or punishment, e.g., 'The late fee was just a minor penalty.'
A minor penalty is two minutes for less serious infractions. A major penalty is five minutes for more dangerous plays (like fighting) and the player serves the full time regardless of goals scored.
Only in the context of discussing ice hockey. The sport is less culturally dominant in the UK, so the metaphorical use is far less common than in North America.
A disciplinary punishment in ice hockey of a short duration, typically two minutes, during which the penalized player's team must play short-handed.
Minor penalty is usually specialist/technical (ice hockey), informal (extended use) in register.
Minor penalty: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmaɪ.nə ˈpen.əl.ti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmaɪ.nɚ ˈpen.əl.ti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's just a minor penalty in the grand scheme of things.”
- “He took a minor penalty for the team (sacrificed himself to stop a scoring chance).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MINOR (underage) child getting a small, temporary punishment—like a two-minute 'time out'—which is a MINOR PENALTY.
Conceptual Metaphor
JUSTICE/FAIR PLAY IS A SPORTING CONTEST; MISTAKES/INFRACTIONS ARE SPORTS PENALTIES.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'minor penalty' most specifically and technically defined?