Origin: Latin suffix -ence
Sentence has 6 different meanings across 2 categories:
a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language
"he always spoke in grammatical sentences"
(criminal law) a final judgment of guilty in a criminal case and the punishment that is imposed
"the conviction came as no surprise"
the period of time a prisoner is imprisoned
"he served a prison term of 15 months"
"his sentence was 5 to 10 years"
"he is doing time in the county jail"
The decision or judgement of a jury or court; a verdict.
"The judge announced that the jury's sentence for the embezzlement case would be ten years in prison."
In plain English: A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought and ends with a period, question mark, or exclamation point.
"The judge gave him a sentence of five years in prison."
To declare a sentence on a convicted person; to doom; to condemn to punishment.
"The judge handed down a life sentence for the defendant who had confessed to the armed robbery."
In plain English: To sentence someone means to officially declare them guilty of a crime and decide their punishment.
"The judge sentenced the defendant to five years in prison."
Usage: Use this verb specifically in legal contexts when an authority formally declares the penalty given to a convicted criminal, such as saying that someone was sentenced to ten years in prison. Do not use it for general punishments or reprimands where no formal judicial declaration has occurred.
The word "sentence" comes from the Middle French term for a way of thinking or opinion, which was borrowed from Latin. Ultimately, it traces back to an ancient root meaning "to feel," reflecting the idea that a judgment involves a mental perception.