the death penalty
noun
: death as a punishment given by a court of law for very serious crimes : capital punishment
If convicted, he could face the death penalty.
She opposes the death penalty.
Examples of the death penalty in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In Utah, prosecutors have 60 days after an arraignment to file notice of intent to pursue the death penalty against a defendant.
—
Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 2 Feb. 2026
The Justice Department was barred from seeking the death penalty against Luigi Mangione, the alleged killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, in a Friday ruling by a Manhattan federal court judge.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2026
Rather than dismissing the case outright or barring the government from seeking the death penalty, prosecutors argued, the defense’s concerns can best be alleviated by carefully questioning prospective jurors about their knowledge of the case and ensuring Mangione’s rights are respected at trial.
—Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Luigi Mangione, who is accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024, will not face the death penalty if convicted, a federal judge ruled on Friday.
—Connor Greene, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the death penalty
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Andi Babineau, CNN Money, 2 Feb. 2026
The Justice Department was barred from seeking the death penalty against Luigi Mangione, the alleged killer of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, in a Friday ruling by a Manhattan federal court judge.
—Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2026
Rather than dismissing the case outright or barring the government from seeking the death penalty, prosecutors argued, the defense’s concerns can best be alleviated by carefully questioning prospective jurors about their knowledge of the case and ensuring Mangione’s rights are respected at trial.
—Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Luigi Mangione, who is accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in 2024, will not face the death penalty if convicted, a federal judge ruled on Friday.
—Connor Greene, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the death penalty
Cite this Entry
“The death penalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20death%20penalty. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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