death sentence

noun

: a sentence condemning a convicted defendant to death

: 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 Brown got 25 years for the charges pending against him, including the two murders that had carried the possibility of a death sentence. —

Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 4 June 2024 Davis' attorneys argued in a February court filing that his death sentence should be recalled because of recent changes to California sentencing laws. —

CBS News, 31 May 2024 His attorney argued in a February court filing that the death sentence should be recalled because of recent changes to state sentencing laws. —

Louis Casiano, Fox News, 31 May 2024 As mitigating evidence against a death sentence, Singh's attorneys elicited testimony from Singh's spiritual advisor and family members who described Singh as being religious, caring toward family and a hard worker. —

Quinlan Bentley, The Enquirer, 14 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for death sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'death sentence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Death sentence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/death%20sentence. Accessed 9 Jun. 2024.

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