commutation

[ kom-yuh-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. the act of substituting one thing for another; substitution; exchange.
2. the changing of a prison sentence or other penalty to another less severe.
3. the act of commuting, as to and from a place of work.
4. the substitution of one kind of payment for another.
5. Electricity. the act or process of commutating.
6. Also called commutation test. Linguistics. the technique, especially in phonological analysis, of substituting one linguistic item for another while keeping the surrounding elements constant, used as a means of determining the constituent units in a sequence and their contrasts with other units.

commutation

/ ˌkɒmjʊˈteɪʃən /

noun

1. a substitution or exchange
2. 1. the replacement of one method of payment by another
   2. the payment substituted
3. the reduction in severity of a penalty imposed by law
4. the process of commutating an electric current
5. the travelling done by a commuter

Other Words From

• pro·com·mu·ta·tion adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of commutation¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English commutacioun, from Latin commūtātiōn-, stem of commutātiō “change”; equivalent to commute + -ation

Example Sentences

Black joked, “I’m Mafioso, bruh,” illustrating the way that Trump has treated pardons and commutations: like gifts from a mob boss.

From Seattle Times

Schmidt previously said he was given only a week to review the 14 commutations, including Calhoun’s, that were submitted by the governor’s office.

From Seattle Times

Yet, Abbott instructed his state’s parole board to justify a commutation of Perry’s sentence over a year ago, as Texas law requires a recommendation from the body.

From Salon

Jahangir said as part of Zanjani’s 2016 sentence, he had the right to an amnesty or commutation of his death sentence if he returned the assets, compensated for damages and expressed regret for wrongdoing.

From Seattle Times

“Like my other clemency actions, these pardons and commutations reflect my overarching commitment to addressing racial disparities and improving public safety,” Biden said.

From Seattle Times