Forfeit their arms armor and horse vs Yield

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Forfeit their arms armor and horse

FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)

Yield

Top 2,000 (common)C1noun
Most formal: Forfeit their arms armor and horseMost common: Yield
 Forfeit their arms armor and horseYield
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //ˈfɔːfɪt//🇺🇸 //ˈfɔrfɪt//🇬🇧 /["/jiːld/"]/🇺🇸 /["/jiːld/"]/
MeaningGive up weapons, armor, and horse.To give up or let someone else have something.
ExampleThe knight had to forfeit their arms armor and horse after being defeated in battle.a high crop yield
RegisterFormalNeutral
How commonBeyond 10,000 (less common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level-C1
Part of speechnoun
Collocationsforfeit rights, forfeit a claim, forfeit possessionsgood, high, low, produce, jump, rise, decline
Antonyms-withhold, retain, deny
Common mistakesConfused with 'forfeit' vs 'foretell'., Using it in informal contexts., Incorrectly assuming it applies only to games.Confused with 'ield' which is not a word., Used in passive voice incorrectly (e.g., 'was yielded' instead of 'was yielded to')., Mixing up with 'yielding' which refers to being flexible or submissive.
Usage notesUsed in legal or formal situations when someone loses rights or possessions. Not commonly used in everyday conversation.Commonly used in both formal and neutral contexts. Often refers to giving way in a discussion, negotiation, or traffic situations. It's less appropriate in casual or slang conversations.

See it in real clips

Forfeit their arms armor and horse
Yield

Frequently asked questions: Forfeit their arms armor and horse vs Yield

What's the difference between Forfeit their arms armor and horse and Yield?

Forfeit their arms armor and horse: Give up weapons, armor, and horse. Yield: To give up or let someone else have something.

Which is more formal: Forfeit their arms armor and horse and Yield?

Forfeit their arms armor and horse is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Forfeit their arms armor and horse and Yield?

Yield is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Forfeit their arms armor and horse: The knight had to forfeit their arms armor and horse after being defeated in battle. Yield: a high crop yield

Can I use Forfeit their arms armor and horse and Yield interchangeably?

Not always. Forfeit their arms armor and horse and Yield are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

Related comparisons