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
Test Your Vocabulary
Name That Food
-
- Name these cookies!

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share commutation
Time Traveler for commutation
The first known use of commutation was in the 15th century
See more words from the same century