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

• 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

With the Supreme Court's order Monday, Maxwell's final hope of winning an early release may be in obtaining a pardon or sentence commutation from President Donald Trump, who is a former friend of both her and Epstein. —Dan Mangan, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2025

Newsom granted a commutation to Arthur Battle, convicted of murder for a 2006 contract killing. —Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2025

The commutation, one of 10 granted by the governor Friday, allows Cuong Tran to make his case for parole earlier than expected. —Jason Green, Mercury News, 30 Aug. 2025

Maxwell's attorney has been publicly seeking a pardon or sentence commutation from President Donald Trump. —Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2025

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