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

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

Soliman apologizes, asks for death penalty Through an interpreter, Soliman apologized for his crimes, offered condolences to Diamond's family and responded to statements made by several of the survivors. —N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 7 May 2026

Faith leaders and community activists expressed their concerns on Thursday afternoon following a report that said Tarrant County unfairly targets racial and ethnic minorities in death penalty cases while also frequently threatening the death sentence to leverage plea bargains. —Kamal Morgan may 7, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 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. —ABC News, 7 May 2026

The attorneys argued that Soliman’s family would be critical witnesses should the federal prosecution proceed as a death penalty case, and that his family should not be deported because they would be required to testify in court. —Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 4 May 2026

Dug has also worked full-time in Arkansas, Kentucky and Indiana and freelanced in various other places in more than 25 years of reporting or editing on everything from death penalty policy, mass shootings, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires, to mundane city council hearings. —Dug Begley, Houston Chronicle, 4 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.