sentence

/ˈsɛntɪns/

/ˈsɛntɪns/

Other forms: sentences; sentenced; sentencing

A sentence can be a group of words that communicate a complete thought, or it can be the punishment in a criminal case. Did your pen pal in prison write a sentence or two about the length of his sentence?

Actually, both meanings of sentence — words and punishment — are linked, coming from the Latin sententia, meaning "thought or judgment," derived from the verb sentire, "to feel or perceive." If you put some words before a period, you should give some thought to your sentence. If you receive a lengthy prison sentence, you will certainly feel it.

Definitions of sentence

1. noun

   a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language
   “he always spoke in grammatical sentences”

   types:

   simple sentence

   a sentence having no coordinate clauses or subordinate clauses

   complex sentence

   a sentence composed of at least one main clause and one subordinate clause

   compound sentence

   a sentence composed of at least two coordinate independent clauses

   declarative sentence, declaratory sentence

   a sentence (in the indicative mood) that makes a declaration

   run-on sentence

   an ungrammatical sentence in which two or more independent clauses are conjoined without a conjunction

   topic sentence

   a statement that provides the main idea of a paragraph

   interrogation, interrogative, interrogative sentence, question

   a sentence of inquiry that asks for a reply

   sentence fragment

   an incomplete sentence with the punctuation and capitalization of a complete sentence

   fragment

   an incomplete sentence with the punctuation and capitalization of a complete sentence

   loose sentence

   a complex sentence in which the main clause comes first and the subordinate clause follows

   periodic sentence

   a complex sentence in which the main clause comes last and is preceded by the subordinate clause

   cross-question

   a question asked in cross-examination

   leading question

   a question phrased in such a way as to suggest the desired answer; a lawyer may ask leading questions on cross-examination

   yes-no question

   a question that can be answered by yes or no

   type of:

   linguistic string, string of words, word string

   a linear sequence of words as spoken or written
2. noun

   (criminal law) a final judgment of guilty in a criminal case and the punishment that is imposed
   synonyms: condemnation, conviction, judgment of conviction

   types:

   murder conviction

   conviction for murder

   rape conviction

   conviction for rape

   robbery conviction

   conviction for robbery

   type of:

   final decision, final judgment

   a judgment disposing of the case before the court; after the judgment (or an appeal from it) is rendered all that remains is to enforce the judgment
3. noun

   the period of time a prisoner is imprisoned
   “his sentence was 5 to 10 years”

   synonyms: prison term, time

   types:

   hard time

   a term served in a maximum security prison

   life, life sentence

   a prison term lasting as long as the prisoner lives

   type of:

   term

   a limited period of time
4. verb

   pronounce a sentence on (somebody) in a court of law
   synonyms: condemn, doom

   types:

   foredoom

   doom beforehand

   reprobate

   abandon to eternal damnation

   type of:

   declare

   state emphatically and authoritatively