capital punishment — the legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: the legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈkæpɪtl̩ ˈpʌnɪʃmənt/
Example Sentences
- The debate over capital punishment divided the courtroom like a bad divorce.
- Many countries have replaced capital punishment with life imprisonment.
- The philosopher argued that capital punishment was as outdated as flip phones.
capital punishment
NOUN[/ˈkæpɪtl̩ ˈpʌnɪʃmənt/]
the legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime
The court sentenced him to capital punishment for his crimes against the kingdom.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The term 'capital' derives from Latin 'caput', meaning 'head'. Historically, capital punishment referred to execution methods involving beheading or decapitation, leading to the phrase becoming synonymous with the most severe penalty for serious crimes.
Breakdown
capital (from Latin caput, 'head') + punishment (from Latin poena, 'penalty'). The compound originally denoted a penalty involving the taking of one's head or life.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The debate over capital punishment divided the courtroom like a bad divorce.”
“Many countries have replaced capital punishment with life imprisonment.”
“The philosopher argued that capital punishment was as outdated as flip phones.”
“Human rights organizations campaign against capital punishment worldwide.”
📚Related Words
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