cruel and unusual punishment

noun

: punishment that is very harsh and too severe for the crime

The law forbids cruel and unusual punishment.

Examples of cruel and unusual punishment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That violates constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment, inmate advocates say. —Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 12 June 2025

The challengers alleged that the State Department’s actions bypass federal immigration law and international treaties while violating constitutional rights to due process, legal counsel and protection against cruel and unusual punishment. —Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 5 June 2025

The justices ruled that the lack of standards in implementation amounted to cruel and unusual punishment. —Kristin Wright, NPR, 25 Apr. 2025

Hoffman's attorneys say the method is unconstitutional, violating the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment. —CBS News, 18 Mar. 2025

Legal Definition

cruel and unusual punishment

noun

cruel and un·​usu·​al punishment

: punishment that is offensive to the contemporary morality or jurisprudence (as by being degrading, inflicting unnecessary and intentional pain, or being disproportionate to the offense)

nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted

—U.S. Constitution amend. VIII

see also Gregg v. Georgia compare corporal punishment, death penalty

Note: A cruel and unusual punishment is essentially one that the courts consider to violate the Eighth Amendment based on a variety of criteria. The interpretation of what constitutes cruel and unusual punishment has changed over time and has varied from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Most forms of corporal punishment formerly used at common law have been found to be cruel and unusual punishments.