Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Wiktionary
n. punishment by death
WordNet
n. putting a condemned person to death [syn: execution, executing, death penalty]
Wikipedia
Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is a government sanctioned practice whereby a person is put to death by the state as a punishment for a crime. The sentence that someone be punished in such a manner is referred to as a death sentence, whereas the act of carrying out the sentence is known as an execution. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital is derived from the Latin capitalis ("of the head", referring to execution by beheading).
Fifty-eight countries retain capital punishment, 102 countries have completely abolished it de jure for all crimes, six have abolished it for ordinary crimes (while maintaining it for special circumstances such as war crimes), and 32 are abolitionist in practice.
Capital punishment is a matter of active controversy in various countries and states, and positions can vary within a single political ideology or cultural region. In the European Union, Article 2 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union prohibits the use of capital punishment. Also, the Council of Europe, which has 47 member states, prohibits the use of the death penalty by its members.
The United Nations General Assembly has adopted, in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014 non-binding resolutions calling for a global moratorium on executions, with a view to eventual abolition. Although most nations have abolished capital punishment, over 60% of the world's population live in countries where executions take place, such as China, India, the United States and Indonesia.
Capital Punishment is the debut and only album released by rapper Big Pun during his lifetime, released on April 28, 1998. The album received critical acclaim, peaking at #5 on the Billboard 200 charts and #1 on the Top R&B Albums chart for two weeks. It was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 1999 Grammy Awards, but lost to Jay-Z's Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life. Capital Punishment is regarded as a classic because of Pun's technical efficiency and wordplay. It was also the first solo Latin hip hop record to go Platinum.
Capital punishment is a legal process whereby a person is put to death by the state.
Capital Punishment or Capitol Punishment may also refer to:
- Capital Punishment (album), an album by rapper Big Pun
- Capitol Punishment (book), a 2011 book about corruption in American politics
- Capitol Punishment: The Megadeth Years, an album by Megadeth
- WWE Capitol Punishment, a 2011 professional wrestling pay-per-view event