capital punishment
compound.the legal killing of a person by the government as a punishment for a very serious crime.
compound.the legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a crime, typically a felony such as murder or treason. Uncountable noun phrase used in legal and political discourse.
“Many countries have abolished capital punishment in recent years.”
“The debate over capital punishment often focuses on whether it actually prevents serious crimes from happening.”
“The international community remains divided on capital punishment, with several nations maintaining it as a deterrent despite widespread calls for global abolition.”
usually functions as an uncountable noun and is often used in formal or legal contexts.
contrast with 'death penalty' (the most common synonym) and 'execution' (the act itself); 'capital' comes from the Latin 'caput', meaning head.