# sentencing

/ˈsɛntənsɪŋ/ (US) · /sˈɛntənsɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sentencing
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. judicial punishment

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

the act of a judge officially stating the punishment for a criminal.

For teachers: the formal pronouncement of a punishment by a court of law upon a person convicted of a crime.

- The judge scheduled the sentencing for next month after the jury found the man guilty.
- The judge deferred sentencing until a full psychiatric evaluation could be completed to determine the defendant's state of mind during the incident.

Usage: Often used as an uncountable noun referring to the process or a countable noun for the specific hearing.

## Examples

- The judge will announce the sentencing next Monday.
- After the jury delivered a guilty verdict, the court scheduled the sentencing for the following month to allow for a background report.
- Legal experts noted that the sentencing reflected a growing trend toward rehabilitation rather than purely punitive measures for first-time non-violent offenders.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.