capital punishment

[ kap-i-tl puhn-ish-muhnt ]

noun

1. punishment by death for a crime; death penalty.

capital punishment

noun

1. the punishment of death for a crime; death penalty

capital punishment

¹

1. The infliction of the death penalty as punishment for certain crimes. ( See capital offense .)

capital punishment

²

1. The death penalty for a crime.

Notes

In the United States, capital punishment has been an extremely controversial issue on legal, moral, and ethical grounds. In 1972, the Supreme Court ruled that the death penalty was not, in principle, cruel and unusual punishment (and not, therefore, unconstitutional), but that its implementation through existing state laws was unconstitutional. In 1976, the Supreme Court again ruled that the death penalty was not unconstitutional, though a mandatory death penalty for any crime was. Thirty-nine states now practice the death penalty.

Word History and Origins

Origin of capital punishment¹

First recorded in 1575–85

Example Sentences

In 2011, Illinois extended the moratorium begun under Governor Ryan into a full ban on capital punishment.

From The Daily Beast

Hickenlooper won election saying he supported capital punishment, but once in office changed his mind.

From The Daily Beast

The council reinstated capital punishment earlier this year.

From The Daily Beast

Most Pennsylvanians now support a moratorium on capital punishment until its efficacy can be determined.

From The Daily Beast

Another week, another botched killing under the legal euphemism of capital punishment.

From The Daily Beast

He spoke against capital punishment, against church-rates, against flogging in the army, and against the Irish Established Church.

From Project Gutenberg

A gallows was erected in the court, where the intractable underwent capital punishment as a warning to the rest.

From Project Gutenberg

Some, however, were in favour of capital punishment, in spite of the law Portia.

From Project Gutenberg

In consequence of this service, the commission recommended that his capital punishment be changed to imprisonment.

From Project Gutenberg

A decree condemning André de Beaumont to suffer capital punishment as being guilty of high treason.

From Project Gutenberg