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
Her case log includes more than 25 murder trials and two death penalty cases.
—
Jon Regardie, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Voters in a 1986 retention election rejected Rose Bird, the chief justice of the California Supreme Court, and two liberal colleagues, over dissatisfaction with decisions overturning numerous death penalty sentences.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Future dangerousness is a key question in death penalty cases in Texas, according to state law.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Apr. 2026
Stubblefield has been subsequently released from prison custody, and the Supreme Court review is on hold pending the outcome of two death penalty appeals from Los Angeles County that could set precedent for what relief defendants are entitled to under the relatively new law.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 27 Apr. 2026
The Justice Department announced a series of actions on Friday aimed at restoring and expanding the use of the federal death penalty, including new execution methods and efforts to speed up capital cases.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2026
The special circumstances could potentially make this a death penalty case.
—Madeline Morrison, NBC news, 23 Apr. 2026
Advocacy groups, including the Equal Justice Initiative, have raised concerns about fairness and due process in death penalty cases.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
But special circumstances can make this case into a life sentence without the possibility of parole, and death penalty eligible.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
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Jon Regardie, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Voters in a 1986 retention election rejected Rose Bird, the chief justice of the California Supreme Court, and two liberal colleagues, over dissatisfaction with decisions overturning numerous death penalty sentences.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2026
Future dangerousness is a key question in death penalty cases in Texas, according to state law.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Apr. 2026
Stubblefield has been subsequently released from prison custody, and the Supreme Court review is on hold pending the outcome of two death penalty appeals from Los Angeles County that could set precedent for what relief defendants are entitled to under the relatively new law.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 27 Apr. 2026
The Justice Department announced a series of actions on Friday aimed at restoring and expanding the use of the federal death penalty, including new execution methods and efforts to speed up capital cases.
—Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 24 Apr. 2026
The special circumstances could potentially make this a death penalty case.
—Madeline Morrison, NBC news, 23 Apr. 2026
Advocacy groups, including the Equal Justice Initiative, have raised concerns about fairness and due process in death penalty cases.
—Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
But special circumstances can make this case into a life sentence without the possibility of parole, and death penalty eligible.
—Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Death penalty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/death%20penalty. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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