death penalty — punishment by execution of someone officially judged to have committed a serious crime
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: punishment by execution of someone officially judged to have committed a serious crime
Pronunciation (IPA): /deθ ˈpenəlti/
Example Sentences
- The lawyer argued passionately against the death penalty, saying even serial killers deserve a second chance at life.
- My mom threatens me with the death penalty every time I forget to do the dishes.
- Several states have abolished the death penalty in favor of life imprisonment without parole.
death penalty
NOUN[/deθ ˈpenəlti/]
punishment by execution of someone officially judged to have committed a serious crime
The judge solemnly announces the death penalty as the courtroom falls silent.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Death derives from Old English 'dēaþ', meaning the end of life, while penalty originates from Latin 'poena', meaning punishment or penalty. Together, the compound term death penalty emerged to denote the ultimate legal punishment—capital punishment—reflecting ancient legal systems' recognition of execution as the severest form of judicial sanction.
Breakdown
death (Old English dēaþ, 'cessation of life') + penalty (Latin poena, 'punishment' + -ity, forming an abstract noun). The compound combines a Germanic-rooted noun with a Latinate legal term to express the most severe criminal sentence.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The lawyer argued passionately against the death penalty, saying even serial killers deserve a second chance at life.”
“My mom threatens me with the death penalty every time I forget to do the dishes.”
“Several states have abolished the death penalty in favor of life imprisonment without parole.”
“The judge said that burning pizza was a crime worthy of the death penalty in his Italian household.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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