death row

noun

: a prison area housing inmates sentenced to death
usually used with on
prisoners waiting on death row

Examples of death row in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Alcala died in 2021 while on death row for the murders of Robin Samsoe, Jill Barcomb, Georgia Wixted, Charlotte Lamb and Jill Parenteau. Madalyn Mendoza, Axios, 25 Oct. 2024 Last week, a correctional officer at Holman was charged with smuggling meth into the prison, which houses the state’s death row population, and distributing it to an inmate. Abigail Brooks, NBC News, 18 Oct. 2024 While on death row, Alcala died of natural causes on July 24, 2021, at age 77. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 17 Oct. 2024 The state plans to retry Glossip if his conviction is vacated, but a ruling in Glossip’s favor will get him off death row for now. Ian Millhiser, Vox, 9 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for death row 

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of death row was in 1894

Dictionary Entries Near death row

Cite this Entry

“Death row.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/death%20row. Accessed 18 Nov. 2024.

Legal Definition

death row

noun
: a prison area housing inmates sentenced to death
death row adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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