capital punishment

American  

[kap-i-tl puhn-ish-muhnt] / ˈkæp ɪ tl ˈpʌn ɪʃ mənt /

noun

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

---

capital punishment British  

noun

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

---

capital punishment ¹ Cultural  

1. The death penalty for a crime.

---

capital punishment ² Cultural  

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

---

Discover More

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.

Etymology

Origin of capital punishment

First recorded in 1575–85

Example Sentences

South Korea has an unofficial moratorium on capital punishment -- the last prisoners were executed in 1997 -- with a death sentence effectively banishing Yoon to life behind bars.

From Barron's • Feb. 19, 2026

Mexico has abolished capital punishment and routinely seeks U.S. guarantees that any suspects extradited or otherwise sent to the United States will not face the death penalty.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 20, 2026

In eight states, capital punishment has no effect on the murder rate.

From Slate • Jan. 16, 2026

However, their arguments remain persuasive — and even more so when it comes to capital punishment.

From Salon • Dec. 30, 2025

He was unaided and easily condemned by a system that was inattentive to the precise legal requirements of capital punishment.

From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson