capital punishment

noun

: punishment by death : the practice of killing people as punishment for serious crimes

called also death penalty

Examples of capital punishment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
If prosecutors don't seek capital punishment, which is under a moratorium in California, Burke would face a maximum sentence of life without parole if convicted. — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026 Throughout the early 1950s, as Smith whipsawed between death row and the death chamber, he was adopted as a cause by opponents of capital punishment. — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026 In 2020, the California Supreme Court overturned the death sentence, finding that the jury had been improperly screened for bias against capital punishment. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 18 July 2026 Florida has executed the oldest prisoner in its history, the latest in a spate of capital punishments against elderly death-row inmates. — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for capital punishment

Word History

First Known Use

1581, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of capital punishment was in 1581

Browse Nearby Words

capitalness
capital punishment
capital ship
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Capital punishment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capital%20punishment. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Legal Definition

capital punishment

noun
: death penalty
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All