Definition

1. Noun:

   • (Linguistics) A Grammatical Unit: A group of words that expresses a complete thought, typically containing a subject and a predicate, and conforming to the grammatical rules of a language.
   • (Law) A Judicial Punishment: The punishment assigned to a defendant found guilty by a court. It also refers to the formal judgment declaring this punishment.
   • (Archaic) An Opinion or Maxim: A stated opinion or a pithy saying; an aphorism.

2. Verb:

   • To Pronounce Judgment: To declare the punishment for a convicted person in a court of law.

Examples

• Noun (Linguistics):
  • Please write a complete sentence.
  • "The cat sat on the mat" is a simple sentence.
• Noun (Law):
  • The judge handed down a ten-year prison sentence.
  • He is serving a life sentence for his crimes.
• Verb:
  • The court will sentence the defendant tomorrow.
  • He was sentenced to community service.

Advanced Usage

• To pass sentence: For a judge to officially declare the punishment in court.
  • The judge will pass sentence next week.
• To be under sentence of death: To have received the judicial punishment of execution.
  • The prisoner remained under sentence of death for years.
• A suspended sentence: A judicial punishment that is not enforced unless the offender commits another crime within a specified period.
  • She received a six-month suspended sentence.

Variants and Related Words

• Sentential (adj): Relating to a sentence or sentences.
  • The sentential structure was complex.
• Sentencer (n): One who pronounces a judicial sentence.
• Sentencing (n): The action of pronouncing a judicial sentence.
  • The sentencing hearing is scheduled for Friday.

Synonyms

• Noun (Linguistics): Statement, utterance, clause.
• Noun (Law): Judgment, ruling, penalty, term.
• Verb: Condemn, convict, doom.

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Sentence to: To assign a specific punishment.
  • The court sentenced him to five years in prison.

Related Idioms

• To serve a sentence: To undergo a period of imprisonment as punishment.
  • He is serving a sentence for fraud.
• A death sentence: A punishment of execution; figuratively, something that causes certain ruin or failure.
  • The diagnosis was a death sentence for the old business model.

Noun

1. the period of time a prisoner is imprisoned
   • he served a prison term of 15 months
   • his sentence was 5 to 10 years
   • he is doing time in the county jail
2. (criminal law) a final judgment of guilty in a criminal case and the punishment that is imposed
   • the conviction came as no surprise
3. a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language
   • he always spoke in grammatical sentences

Verb

1. pronounce a sentence on (somebody) in a court of law
   • He was condemned to ten years in prison