death penalty
noun
: death as punishment for a crime : capital punishment
—used with the
Prosecutors recommended the death penalty.
Examples of death penalty in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Alabama ended the practice of judicial override in 2017 and no longer allows a judge to disregard a jury’s sentencing decision in death penalty cases.
—
Kim Chandler, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
The state charge could also end in a death sentence, but North Carolina has had a de-facto moratorium on death penalties for nearly 20 years.
—Julia Coin
june 11, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026
Alabama later ended the ability of a judge to disregard a jury’s sentencing decision in death penalty cases.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
Brother could face death penalty Her brother remains in jail custody without bail.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2026
While the ruling was a win for death penalty opponents fighting against the use of nitrogen gas, the court stopped short of granting Lee a stay of execution or attempting to banish the method altogether.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 9 June 2026
Alabama as an ‘outlier’ in death penalty statutes Only a handful of states ever allowed judicial override.
—Nina Giraldo, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
According to federal law, the two counts of murder are punishable by death or life in prison, though the federal agency, which cited case law, said the stalking charges weren't likely death penalty-eligible.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 8 June 2026
In Ervin’s case, a prosecutor refused to seat nine prospective Black jurors at his death penalty trial — leaving his case to be decided by 11 white people and one Black man.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
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Kim Chandler, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2026
The state charge could also end in a death sentence, but North Carolina has had a de-facto moratorium on death penalties for nearly 20 years.
—Julia Coin
june 11, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2026
Alabama later ended the ability of a judge to disregard a jury’s sentencing decision in death penalty cases.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
Brother could face death penalty Her brother remains in jail custody without bail.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 10 June 2026
While the ruling was a win for death penalty opponents fighting against the use of nitrogen gas, the court stopped short of granting Lee a stay of execution or attempting to banish the method altogether.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 9 June 2026
Alabama as an ‘outlier’ in death penalty statutes Only a handful of states ever allowed judicial override.
—Nina Giraldo, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
According to federal law, the two counts of murder are punishable by death or life in prison, though the federal agency, which cited case law, said the stalking charges weren't likely death penalty-eligible.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 8 June 2026
In Ervin’s case, a prosecutor refused to seat nine prospective Black jurors at his death penalty trial — leaving his case to be decided by 11 white people and one Black man.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Death penalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/death%20penalty. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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