sentence

1 of 2

noun

sen·​tence ˈsen-tᵊn(t)s 

-tᵊnz

1

a

: a word, clause, or phrase or a group of clauses or phrases forming a syntactic unit which expresses an assertion, a question, a command, a wish, an exclamation, or the performance of an action, that in writing usually begins with a capital letter and concludes with appropriate end punctuation, and that in speaking is distinguished by characteristic patterns of stress, pitch, and pauses

b

: a mathematical or logical statement (such as an equation or a proposition) in words or symbols

2

a

: judgment sense 4a

specifically : one formally pronounced by a court or judge in a criminal proceeding and specifying the punishment to be inflicted upon the convict

b

: the punishment so imposed

serve out a sentence

3

: period sense 2b

4

archaic : maxim, saw

5

obsolete : opinion

especially : a conclusion given on request or reached after deliberation

sentence

2 of 2

verb

sentenced; sentencing

transitive verb

1

: to impose a sentence on

2

: to cause to suffer something

sentenced these most primitive cultures to extinction

—E. W. Count

Synonyms

Noun

• doom
• finding
• holding
• judgment
• judgement
• ruling

Verb

• condemn
• damn
• doom

Examples of sentence in a Sentence

Noun

He is serving a 10-year sentence for armed robbery.

Verb

The defendant was sentenced and fined.

the judge sentenced him to a fine of $50 and time served

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The longest sentence was 22 years for seditious conspiracy. —Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAY, 8 Dec. 2024

Manslaughter requires proving a defendant recklessly caused another person’s death, and carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison. —Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024

Verb

In 2023, Kelley pleaded guilty in connection with the case and was sentenced to 13 years in prison. —Liam Quinn, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024

Bradley was caught and sentenced to life in prison, and Australia altered its lottery laws to allow winners to remain anonymous. —Michael Y. Park, Architectural Digest, 9 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin sententia feeling, opinion, from *sentent-, *sentens, irregular present participle of sentire to feel — more at sense

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 5

Verb

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sentence

• death sentence
• life sentence
• loose sentence
• open sentence
• pass sentence
• periodic sentence
• pre-sentence
• pronounce sentence
• run-on sentence
• sentence adverb
• sentence/condemn to death
• sentence fragment
• sentence stress
• sub-sentence
• suspended sentence
• topic sentence

Kids Definition

sentence

1 of 2 noun

sen·​tence ˈsent-ᵊn(t)s 

-ᵊnz

1

a

: judgment sense 2

especially : one pronounced by a court in a criminal proceeding and specifying the punishment

b

: the punishment set by a court

2

a

: a grammatically self-contained group of words that expresses a statement, a question, a command, a wish, or an exclamation

b

: a mathematical or logical statement (as an equation) in words or symbols

sentential

sen-ˈten-chəl

adjective

sentence

2 of 2 verb

sentenced; sentencing

1

: to impose a judgment on

sentenced them to prison

2

: to cause to suffer something

Legal Definition

sentence

1 of 2 noun

sen·​tence ˈsent-ᵊns, -ᵊnz 

1

: a judgment formally pronouncing the punishment to be inflicted on one convicted of a crime

2

: the punishment that one convicted of a crime is ordered to receive

— concurrent sentence

: a sentence that runs at the same time as another

— consecutive sentence

: a sentence that runs before or after another

— cumulative sentence

: consecutive sentence in this entry

also : the combination of two or more consecutive sentences

— death sentence

: a sentence condemning the convicted defendant to death

— determinate sentence \ di-​ˈtər-​mə-​nət-​ \

: a sentence for a fixed rather than indeterminate length of time

— general sentence

: a sentence that does not allocate the punishment imposed for the individual counts on which the defendant was convicted

Note: General sentences are impermissible.

— indeterminate sentence \ ˌin-​di-​ˈtər-​mə-​nət-​ \

: a sentence of minimum and maximum duration with the exact length to be later determined (as by a parole board)

— life sentence

: a sentence of imprisonment for the rest of the convicted defendant's life

— mandatory sentence

: a sentence that is specifically required or falls within a range required by statute as punishment for an offense

imposed the minimum mandatory sentence for distributing drugs near a school

— presumptive sentence

: a sentence that is the presumed punishment for an offense and is subject to the upward or downward adjustment of its severity depending on aggravating and mitigating factors

— split sentence

: a sentence of which part is served in prison and the other suspended and usually replaced by probation

— suspended sentence

: a sentence the imposition or execution of which is suspended by the court

sentence

2 of 2 transitive verb

sentenced; sentencing

: to impose a sentence on

Etymology

Noun

Old French, opinion, judicial sentence, from Latin sententia, ultimately from sentire to feel, think, express an opinion