sentence meaning and definition

SENTENCE noun

Definition of sentence (noun)

1. a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language
   • "he always spoke in grammatical sentences"
2. (criminal law) a final judgment of guilty in a criminal case and the punishment that is imposed
   • "the conviction came as no surprise"
   • synonyms: condemnation, conviction, judgment of conviction
   • antonym: acquittal
3. 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"
   • synonyms: prison term, time

SENTENCE verb

Definition of sentence (verb)

1. pronounce a sentence on (somebody) in a court of law
   • "He was condemned to ten years in prison"
   • synonyms: condemn, doom