commutation
noun
com·mu·ta·tion
ˌkäm-yə-ˈtā-shən 
-yü-
2
: replacement
specifically
: a substitution of one form of payment or charge for another
a commutation by money payment for the exacted service
3
: a change of a legal penalty or punishment to a lesser one
commutation of a death sentence
4
: an act or process of commuting
… a ridge of hills makes daily commutation to San Francisco arduous.—
The New York Times
The New York Times5
: the action of commutating
Examples of commutation in a Sentence
He appealed for a commutation of his death sentence to life imprisonment.
an international commutation of food for oil
Recent Examples on the Web
These partisans, of course, will oppose commutation – but Polis still should grant it.
—Mike Davis, The Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2025
Peltier was released from a Florida prison only a few days ago following the commutation of his sentence by Pres.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2025
Despite the long odds, Moody and Leach wrote to the Board of Pardons and Paroles, requesting a commutation of Melissa’s sentence, or at least a stay.
—Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
Hundreds of people whose sentences were shortened deserved a commutation, but others didn’t, The Wall Street Journal reported Oyer as saying.
—Ray Lewis, Baltimore Sun, 4 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for commutation
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Mike Davis, The Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2025
Peltier was released from a Florida prison only a few days ago following the commutation of his sentence by Pres.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 Feb. 2025
Despite the long odds, Moody and Leach wrote to the Board of Pardons and Paroles, requesting a commutation of Melissa’s sentence, or at least a stay.
—Lawrence Wright, The New Yorker, 10 Feb. 2025
Hundreds of people whose sentences were shortened deserved a commutation, but others didn’t, The Wall Street Journal reported Oyer as saying.
—Ray Lewis, Baltimore Sun, 4 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for commutation
Cite this Entry
“Commutation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commutation. Accessed 8 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
commutation
noun
com·mu·ta·tion
ˌkäm-yə-ˈtā-shən
2
: a reduction of a legal penalty
3
: an act of commuting
4
: the process of reversing the direction of an electric circuit
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