capital punishment

noun

: punishment by death : the practice of killing people as punishment for serious crimes

called also death penalty

Examples of capital punishment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Democrat Xavier Becerra vows to extend the moratorium despite past support for capital punishment. — Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

While California hasn’t executed anyone since 2006, and Governor Gavin Newsom announced a reprieve on all executions in 2019, Hochman opened the possibility of once again handing out capital punishment in extreme murder trials. — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 7 Sep. 2026

The crackdown has also increasingly involved capital punishment. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026

DeSantis has maintained that capital punishment is needed to deliver justice for the victims’ families and questioned the length of the appeals process. — Jim Turner, Sun Sentinel, 27 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

capital punishment

noun

: death penalty