death sentence

noun

1
: a sentence condemning a convicted defendant to death
2
: an affliction or a situation that is considered to be fatal
also : a prognosis of death

Examples of death sentence in a Sentence

She received a death sentence for the murders.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Upholding the death sentence this week, the appeal court’s judges said Lan’s crimes caused grave consequences, and there are no mitigating circumstances to reduce her sentence, VnExpress International reported. Kathleen Magramo, CNN, 6 Dec. 2024 Grayson is the only one of the four facing a death sentence since the other teens were under 18 at the time of the killing. CBS News, 21 Nov. 2024 In the modern era, President Barack Obama granted clemency to a federal death row inmate with an intellectual disability and commuted the death sentence of someone on military death row, according to Maher, at the Death Penalty Information Center. N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA TODAY, 19 Nov. 2024 Latest headlines: 4:38 AM PST Khamenei calls for 'death sentence' for Netanyahu, Israeli leaders 4:13 AM PST Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut suburbs Nov 24, 2024, 12:05 PM PST Israeli official confirms Netanyahu holding meeting on Lebanon cease-fire Here's how the news is developing. David Brennan, ABC News, 25 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for death sentence 

Word History

First Known Use

1655, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of death sentence was in 1655

Dictionary Entries Near death sentence

Cite this Entry

“Death sentence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/death%20sentence. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Legal Definition

death sentence

see sentence

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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