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

Jose Canale scored on the first sudden-death penalty kick, Orlando Gill made two key saves in the shootout, and Paraguay beat Germany 4-3 on penalties Monday to earn the biggest upset of the 2026 World Cup so far. — Kyle Hightower, CBS News, 30 June 2026

The charge of premeditated murder carries a possible death penalty. — ABC News, 30 June 2026

Paraguay upsets Germany in sudden-death penalty kicks Gustavo Gómez of Paraguay celebrates after José Canale converts the winning penalty in a penalty shootout against Germany on Monday. — Josh Feldman, NBC news, 30 June 2026

Arrested at Bangkok’s airport while boarding a flight to Perth, Carman now faces rape and murder charges in a case that could carry Thailand’s death penalty. — Jintamas Saksornchai, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026

The federal murder charge was death penalty eligible. — Adam Sabes , Maria Paronich, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2026

Florida’s uptick in executions is due, in part, to the state’s new death penalty laws. — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 24 June 2026

The murder through the use of a firearm charge carried a possible death penalty sentence. — Lorena O’Neil, Rolling Stone, 17 June 2026

The state charge could also end in a death sentence, but North Carolina has had a de-facto moratorium on death penalties for nearly 20 years. — Julia Coin june 11, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 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.