the area, 44 yards (40 meters) wide and 18 yards (16 meters) deep, centered on the goal line and extending in front of the goal, where a foul by a defensive player results in a penalty kick for the offensive team.
Origin
1900-05
Examples from the web for penalty area
All indirect free kicks awarded inside the penalty area will be taken from the nearest point outside the penalty area.
Those tools, in the civil money penalty area, need to be strengthened.
British Dictionary definitions for penalty area
penalty area
noun
1.
(soccer) a rectangular area in front of the goal, within which the goalkeeper may handle the ball and within which a penalty is awarded for a foul by the defending team