Definition of commutation
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
Read the Latest from M-W
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 of commutation from the Web
-
During radio interviews this week, Mr. LePage suggested his push for commutations was not a sudden shift in his views on the criminal justice system.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'commutation'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of commutation
Middle English commutacion, from Anglo-French, from Latin commutation-, commutatio, from commutare
First Known Use: 15th century
COMMUTATION Defined for English Language Learners
commutation
playDefinition of commutation for English Language Learners
-
law : a change of a punishment to a less severe one
Learn More about commutation
-
See words that rhyme with commutation Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for commutation Britannica English: Translation of commutation for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about commutation
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up commutation? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!