commutation
kom-yoo-TAY-shun
/ˌkɒmjuːˈteɪʃən/
The action of reducing a judicial sentence to one that is less severe.
Unlike a pardon, a commutation does not erase the conviction; it only lessens the punishment (e.g., from death to life in prison).
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'com-' (altogether) and 'mutare' (to change). It shares a root with 'commute' (to travel), which originally meant to change one's place of work.
Word relationships
- reduction: Reduction is a general term; commutation is the specific legal term for sentences.
- aggravation: In a legal sense, making a sentence more severe due to certain factors.
Commonly confused with
- pardon: A pardon wipes the slate clean; a commutation just makes the punishment shorter.
Word family
- commute (verb): To reduce a judicial sentence to one less severe.
Collocations
- commutation of sentence
- seek a commutation
- grant a commutation
Example sentences
- "The governor granted a commutation of the life sentence, allowing the prisoner to be eligible for parole." Legal news
- "The commutation of his death sentence to life imprisonment was seen as a major victory for his lawyers." Historical record
Memory hook
Commutation = Change. You are changing the sentence to something smaller. Change the sentence.
When not to use
Do not use for a full pardon or for being found not guilty.
Fun facts
- The most famous commutation in U.S. history was perhaps when President Nixon's sentence was preemptively pardoned, though commutation usually refers to the sentence length itself.
- Commutations are often granted for 'time served.'
Related words
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