sentence
SEN-tuhns
/ˈsɛntəns/
(noun) The punishment assigned to a defendant found guilty by a court, or fixed by law for a particular offense. (verb) To impose a sentence on (a convicted person).
As a noun, it's the specific punishment. As a verb, it's the act of imposing that punishment. Distinct from 'verdict'.
The story behind the word. The word 'sentence' comes from the Old French 'sentence,' which traces back to the Latin 'sententia,' meaning 'opinion, judgment, thought.' This, in turn, is derived from 'sentire,' meaning 'to feel, to think.' So, a sentence is the court's final 'judgment' or 'opinion' on the appropriate punishment for a convicted person.
Word relationships
- punishment: A broader term for any penalty for wrongdoing, while 'sentence' is specifically the legal punishment decreed by a court.
- judgment: Judgment can encompass the entire court decision, including the sentence, but 'sentence' is specifically the penalty.
- pardon: An official act of forgiving a crime, which can negate a sentence.
- acquittal: A verdict of not guilty, meaning no sentence is imposed.
Commonly confused with
- verdict: A 'sentence' is the punishment given by a judge after a conviction. A 'verdict' is the jury's decision on whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty.
Word family
- sentencing (noun): the act of imposing a sentence.
- sentenced (verb): past tense and past participle of sentence.
Collocations
- prison sentence
- death sentence
- life sentence
- suspended sentence
- serve a sentence
- impose a sentence
Example sentences
- "The judge handed down a harsh sentence of ten years in prison for the serious fraud offense." Referring to the punishment given.
- "The court will sentence the convicted individual next month, after reviewing all mitigating factors." Using the verb form to describe the judge's action.
Memory hook
The judge 'SENT' the criminal to a 'SENTENCE' in prison. SENT to prison
When not to use
Do not use 'sentence' (noun) to refer to the jury's decision on guilt; that is the 'verdict'. The judge imposes the sentence after a guilty verdict.
Fun facts
- In English grammar, a 'sentence' is also a group of words forming a complete thought, a completely unrelated meaning despite the shared word.
- Mandatory minimum sentences are laws that require judges to impose a minimum prison term for certain crimes.
Explore more words
conviction, penitentiary, condemn, punitive, banish, commute
Also appears in
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