sentencing
Upper-Intermediate (B2)
IPA: /ˈsɛntənsɪŋ/
KK: /ˈsɛntənsɪŋ/
adjective
Definition
Relating to the act of declaring a punishment for a crime in a court of law.
Example
The sentencing guidelines help judges determine appropriate punishments for offenders.
Conversation
Did you hear about the new sentencing guidelines they implemented?
Yeah, I read about that! It seems like a big change for the justice system.
I wonder how it will affect the judges' decisions in court.
It'll be interesting to see if it leads to more fair outcomes.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
judicial
penal
punitive
Antonyms
acquitting
exonerating
freeing
noun
Definition
The process of deciding the punishment for someone who has been found guilty of a crime.
Example
The judge announced the sentencing of the defendant after the trial.
Conversation
Did you hear about the sentencing that happened yesterday?
Yeah, it was all over the news!
I can’t believe how harsh the sentencing was for that case.
Root Explanation
Sentencing → It is formed from "sentence" (from Old French *sentence*, meaning a judgment or decision) and "-ing" (a suffix used to form nouns indicating an action or process). The word "sentencing" refers to the process of declaring a judgment or decision, particularly in a legal context.
Memory Tip
Think of a 'sentence' as a judgment being declared, and the '-ing' shows that it is the action of making that judgment.
Visually Confused Words
stenching
sweetening
entrancing