Meaning & use
capital punishment
Punishment for a crime by death, carried out under legal authority.
See it in a sentence
Several countries have abolished capital punishment in favor of life imprisonment.
The jury had to decide whether the case warranted capital punishment.
A note on using this word
A highly debated legal and ethical issue, with laws on it varying widely between countries and states.
Words with a similar meaning
death penalty
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “capital punishment”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.