death penalty

noun

: death as punishment for a crime : capital punishment

—used with the

Prosecutors recommended the death penalty.

Examples of death penalty in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Alabama in 2017 ended the practice of judicial override and no longer allows a judge to disregard a jury’s sentencing decision in death penalty cases. —Kim Chandler, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026

But Wong said that framing the petition separately from an individual death penalty case allows the groups to bring in statewide data that might not be allowed in a standard criminal defense. —Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 28 May 2026

After a conversation between Glanville and the attorneys for both the prosecution and defense, the judge said that scheduling challenges for counsel qualified to defend death penalty cases have left Long's case in limbo. —Dan Raby, CBS News, 28 May 2026

But first, scroll down to read about a Senate hearing on the NIH, a Supreme Court death penalty decision, and two related items on confusion around STIs. —Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 22 May 2026

Overlapping themes The condemned have expressed some of the same sentiments in the modern era of Texas’ death penalty. —Erik Ortiz, NBC news, 20 May 2026

More than two decades ago, Florida’s death penalty law added a right to DNA testing for inmates who want to challenge their conviction or sentence. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 May 2026

His charges are death penalty eligible. —Adam Sabes , Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026

The stakes are especially high in death penalty cases such as Robinson’s, where a jury can consider the defendant’s character as part of its determination. —Hannah Schoenbaum, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined above

Legal Definition

death penalty

noun

: death as punishment for a crime

called also capital punishment

see also cruel and unusual punishment, Gregg v. Georgia

Note: The U.S. Supreme Court has held that the death penalty is not inherently violative of the Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment, provided that the method is not deemed cruel and that the punishment is not excessive in relation to the crime. A statute mandating the death penalty is unconstitutional, however. A sentencing judge is required to consider any mitigating circumstances before imposing the death penalty for a crime.