sentence

UK: /ˈsɛntəns/ US: /ˈsɛntns/ ,(sen′tns)

Inflections of 'sentence' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

sentences

v 3rd person singular

sentencing

v pres p

sentenced

v past

sentenced

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

sen•tence /ˈsɛntns/   n., v., -tenced, -tenc•ing. 
n. 

1. Grammar a group of words that forms an independent grammatical unit:
   [countable] A sentence in English typically consists of a subject and a predicate containing a finite verb.
2. Law a judicial decision, esp. one stating punishment for a convicted criminal:
   [countable] got the maximum sentence.
   [uncountable] to pass sentence on criminals.

v. [~ + object]

3. to condemn to punishment:
   He sentenced the murderer to life imprisonment.

See -sent-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sen•tence  (sen′tns), n., v., -tenced, -tenc•ing. 
n. 

1. Grammar a grammatical unit of one or more words, bearing minimal syntactic relation to the words that precede or follow it, often preceded and followed in speech by pauses, having one of a small number of characteristic intonation patterns, and typically expressing an independent statement, question, request, command, etc., as Summer is here. or Who is it? or Stop!
2. Law
   • an authoritative decision;
     a judicial judgment or decree, esp. the judicial determination of the punishment to be inflicted on a convicted criminal.
   • the punishment itself.
3. Music and Dance a period.
4. [Archaic.] a saying, apothegm, or maxim.
5. [Obs.] an opinion given on a particular question.

v.t. 

6. to pronounce sentence upon;
   condemn to punishment.

• Old French sentencier, derivative of sentence
• Latin sententia opinion, decision, equivalent. to sent- (base of sentīre to feel) + -entia -ence; (verb, verbal) Middle English: to pass judgment, decide judicially
• Old French
• (noun, nominal) Middle English 1175–1225

sen′tenc•er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

sentence / ˈsɛntəns/ noun

1. a sequence of words capable of standing alone to make an assertion, ask a question, or give a command, usually consisting of a subject and a predicate containing a finite verb
2. the judgment formally pronounced upon a person convicted in criminal proceedings, esp the decision as to what punishment is to be imposed
3. a proverb, maxim, or aphorism

verb

1. (transitive) to pronounce sentence on (a convicted person) in a court of law

Etymology: 13th Century: via Old French from Latin sententia a way of thinking, from sentīre to feel

sentential / sɛnˈtɛnʃəl/ adjective