capital punishment
Americannoun
noun
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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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Those comments have reassured anti-death penalty advocates wary of Becerra, who has stated throughout his career that capital punishment should be an option for victims seeking justice.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026
The district attorney’s office did not seek capital punishment in the case.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
In the world of capital punishment, Burton is not alone in coming under suspicion.
From Slate ● Aug. 13, 2026
Under the new legislation, capital punishment will be replaced with life imprisonment with hard labour.
From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026
I didn't really know anything about capital punishment and hadn't even taken a class in criminal procedure yet.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
