life sentence

noun

plural life sentences
: a sentence of imprisonment for the remainder of a convicted person's life when there is no possibility of parole or for a minimum number of years under applicable law until the convicted person becomes eligible for and is granted parole

Examples of life sentence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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After Miller's death in 2021, Israel Lecompte, 21, was sentenced to two mandatory life sentences plus 163 years for the murders of Miller and 22-year-old Quinton Dorsey. Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026 His life sentence does not include the possibility of parole. Katie Houlis, CBS News, 11 June 2026 Unlike its counterparts, however, Alabama was the only state where judges frequently overrode life sentences in favor of death, according to a 2011 report by the Equal Justice Initiative, or EJI. Nina Giraldo, CNN Money, 9 June 2026 Dougherty was there for the victims and the Jewish community, and after a guilty plea got a life sentence for Soliman. The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for life sentence

Word History

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of life sentence was in 1817

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Cite this Entry

“Life sentence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/life%20sentence. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

Legal Definition

life sentence

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