What is death sentence? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of death sentence in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of death sentence

death sentencenoun
án tử hình
/ˈdeθ sentəns//ˈdeθ sentəns/

Where does the word death sentence come from?

The term "death sentence" originated in the early 19th century as a legal term in England to describe the formal pronouncement of a judge in a criminal trial that a defendant found guilty of a capital offense would be put to death by hanging, beheading, or some other form of execution. This sentence was known as a "capital sentence" or a "sentence of death" in common law due to the legal punishment for certain serious crimes being death. The phrase "death sentence" gradually became more widely used in legal and colloquial language as a clear and concise way to convey the gravity and finality of the sentence. Today, the term is employed in various contexts beyond the criminal justice system to metaphorically refer to any severe and irreversible penalty or sanction, such as termination from employment or expulsion from an organization.

Example of vocabulary death sentencenamespace

The convicted criminal received a death sentence for his heinous crimes.
The jury delivered a death sentence to the notorious gang leader, bringing an end to his reign of terror.
The defendant was sentenced to death for his involvement in a brutal murder.
The death penalty has been a subject of controversy and debate for many years, with some arguing it is a necessary deterrent and others denouncing it as a violation of human rights.
The warden informed the inmate that his appeals had been exhausted, and his death sentence would be carried out in a matter of weeks.