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

Even if the death penalty was imposed, Lawhead would have remained in prison for the rest of his life unless California’s moratorium on the death penalty were to be lifted and capital punishment resumes. — Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026

Meredith Schlacter, an attorney for Jonathan Carr said the case was reflective of Kansas’ broken capital punishment system. — Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 14 July 2026

Florida is preparing to execute three of its oldest death row inmates, including an 80-year-old man, spotlighting the nation’s increasingly elderly population facing capital punishment. — David Fischer, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026

Florida led the nation in the number of executions — 19 — carried out in 2025, the most in any single year since the state resumed capital punishment in 1979. — Dan Sullivan, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

capital punishment

noun

: death penalty