sentence
A group of words that says a complete idea.
A set of words that expresses a complete thought, typically containing a subject and a predicate.
The time or punishment a judge gives to someone guilty of a crime.
A punishment assigned to someone found guilty of a crime, decided by a judge or court.
When a judge says what punishment someone guilty of a crime will get.
To officially state the punishment for someone found guilty of a crime in court.
- Base: sentence
- Plural: sentences
- Base: sentence
- 3rd Person Singular: sentences
- Present Participle: sentencing
- Past: sentenced
life sentence
1Prison term for life
When someone must stay in prison for the rest of their life.
- He is serving a life sentence for armed robbery.
- The court gave her a life sentence without parole.
suspended sentence
1Punishment not enforced if rules are followed
A court decision where the person will not go to prison now, but will if they break the law again soon.
- She got a suspended sentence for her first offense.
- The judge gave him a suspended sentence and ordered community service.
death sentence
1Official order to execute someone as punishment for a crime
When a court says someone must be killed as punishment for a crime.
- The judge handed down a death sentence for the murderer.
- The murderer received the death sentence after the trial.
- In some countries, drug trafficking carries a death sentence.
- Many countries have abolished the death sentence.