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

Going forward, the federal Bureau of Prisons will begin advising inmates of the opportunity to apply for sentence commutation.

From The Daily Beast

More than 2,000 supporters have signed a petition arguing for commutation in the days since the sentencing.

From The Daily Beast

Recently leaving an event, Schwarzenegger was asked by a reporter for a comment on the Nunez commutation.

From The Daily Beast

Mr. Shiel said that the preamble already set forth that the bill was to effect a commutation.

From Project Gutenberg

Commutation, he argued, would do no good; a new appropriation of church property alone could produce even a momentary calm.

From Project Gutenberg

The commutation of tithes in England was a subject still more complicated and difficult.

From Project Gutenberg

Often was death demanded as a commutation of this ignominious punishment, but refused with a malignant joy.

From Project Gutenberg

If no reprieve could be obtained, no commutation of the sentence, he would speak out and set Andrew Westwood free.

From Project Gutenberg