Okuzeka
Criminal Law & Justice vocabulary · Sentencing & Punishment

Life sentence

Meaning in criminal law & justice, with examples

/ˌlaɪf ˈsentəns/nounCommon term

In criminal law & justice, life sentence means: The most severe prison sentence in many countries, given for very serious crimes such as murder; it does not always mean the person stays in prison until death.

In Turkish: müebbet hapis cezası, ömür boyu hapis

How it is used

Judges 'impose' a life sentence and offenders 'serve life' or 'get life'. In England and Wales the judge sets a 'minimum term' that must be served before the prisoner can be considered for parole. In the US the phrase 'life without parole' is common.

Example sentences

  1. He was given a life sentence with a minimum term of twenty years.

  2. Life sentences are reserved for the most serious offences.

Common collocations

  • serve a life sentence
  • life without parole
  • minimum term
  • get life
  • life imprisonment
  • sentenceThe punishment that a judge gives a person who has been found guilty; as a verb, to give someone a particular punishment.
  • murderThe crime of unlawfully and deliberately killing another person; it is one of the most serious offences in every legal system.
  • paroleEarly release of a prisoner before the end of the sentence, on condition that they obey certain rules; they can be sent back to prison if they do not.
  • imprisonmentThe punishment of being kept in prison for a period of time; also the state of being in prison.

More terms: Sentencing & Punishment

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level:

This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.