life imprisonment
"Life imprisonment" is a severe form of punishment where a person is confined to prison for a significant portion or the entirety of their life.
🇺🇸 US Voice:
🇬🇧 UK Voice:
Definition
B2Criminal Justice
(formal, legal)A punishment where an individual is incarcerated for the remainder of their life, sometimes with the possibility of parole.
Example
- The judge sentenced him to life imprisonment for the heinous crime.
- She was given life imprisonment but could be eligible for parole after 25 years.
C1International Law
(technical, legal)A legal penalty where a person is detained in prison for an indefinite period, often until death, without the possibility of release.
Example
- In some countries, life imprisonment without parole is used for the most serious offenses.
C1Regional Variations
(regional, legal)In certain jurisdictions, a sentence that may last for a fixed number of years, such as 30 years, rather than the convict's entire life.
Example
- In Malaysia, life imprisonment can mean a sentence of 30 years.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "life imprisonment":