commutation

noun

com·​mu·​ta·​tion ˌkäm-yə-ˈtā-shən 

-yü-

1

: exchange, trade

2

: replacement

specifically : a substitution of one form of payment or charge for another

a commutation by money payment for the exacted service

3

: a change of a legal penalty or punishment to a lesser one

commutation of a death sentence

4

: an act or process of commuting

… a ridge of hills makes daily commutation to San Francisco arduous.

—The New York Times

5

: the action of commutating

Synonyms of commutation

• exchange

Examples of commutation in a Sentence

He appealed for a commutation of his death sentence to life imprisonment.

an international commutation of food for oil

Recent Examples on the Web

Slain Sacramento police officer Tara O'Sullivan's mother is speaking out against Governor Gavin Newsom's commutation of all death sentences in California — which includes her daughter's killer. — Steve Large, CBS News, 13 Nov. 2026

As an example of these legal problems, the law requires that the state’s Supreme Court approve the commutations of convicts found guilty of two or more felonies. — Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 11 Nov. 2026

For 382 prisoners with multiple felony convictions, commutations require review by the California Supreme Court. — Chris Boyette, CNN Money, 10 Nov. 2026

The state's constitution requires California Supreme Court approval to grant clemency to anyone convicted of a felony more than once, meaning judges would need to authorize 382 of the commutations, or about 70 percent. — Joshua Rhett Miller, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English commutacion, from Anglo-French, from Latin commutation-, commutatio, from commutare

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing commutation

• commutation ticket

Rhymes for commutation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation

Kids Definition

commutation

noun

com·​mu·​ta·​tion ˌkäm-yə-ˈtā-shən 

1

: exchange entry 1 sense 2, replacement

2

: a reduction of a legal penalty

3

: an act of commuting

4

: the process of reversing the direction of an electric circuit