Sentences
/ˈsɛn.tənsɪz/
Definitions
- (n.) Judicial declarations of the punishment assigned to a defendant convicted of a crime.
The court imposed five-year prison sentences on the defendants.
- (n.) Grammatically complete units of language expressing a statement, question, exclamation, or command, relevant in legal drafting and interpretation.
The contract must contain clear sentences to avoid ambiguity.
Forms
- sentence
Related terms
Commentary
In legal contexts, "sentences" principally refers to punishments assigned by courts but also to units of language critical in statutory and contract interpretation. Always distinguish between the plural noun sense and other grammatical forms to avoid confusion.
This glossary is for general informational and educational purposes only. Definitions are jurisdiction-agnostic but reflect terminology and concepts primarily drawn from English and American legal traditions. Nothing herein constitutes legal advice or creates a lawyer-client relationship. Users should consult qualified counsel for advice on specific matters or jurisdictions.