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 Word Forms

• procommutation 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

The news was no less a shock to Jackson, who thought the language of the commutation minimized Martinez’s role in concocting the kidnapping plan that led to the murder.

From Los Angeles Times

From 2020 to shortly after The Times stories in 2023, a press release on the site crowed, “Governor publicly announces commutation of sentence for Spolin Law client,” according to the stipulation filed this week.

From Los Angeles Times

Hoover will be moved out of federal prison, following the commutation, as he was also convicted on a state-level murder charge.

From Salon

Bin and Penry are among 16 felons who received pardons and nine people who received commutations.

From Los Angeles Times

Critics have questioned Bondi’s use of “terrorism” given President Trump’s granting of sweeping pardons or commutations to more than 1,500 people charged with or convicted of storming the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times