death sentence
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death sentence
A court judgment that sentences a person to execution for a crime; capital punishment.
In vielen Ländern wurde das Todesurteil inzwischen abgeschafft.
In many countries, the death sentence has since been abolished.
death sentence
In a figurative sense, a decision or event that means the certain end or failure of something, e.g. a project, company, or hope.
Die Schließung des Hauptwerks war das Todesurteil für die kleine Stadt.
The closure of the main plant was the death sentence for the small town.
The word is made up of 'Tod' (death; genitive: 'des Todes') and 'Urteil' (court judgment). So it literally means a 'Urteil des Todes' (judgment of death).
Der Richter verkündete das Todesurteil.
The judge announced the death sentence.
In a legal context, a 'Todesurteil' (death sentence) is 'gefällt' (passed), 'verkündet' (announced), or 'vollstreckt' (carried out). A convicted person 'bekommt' (receives) a death sentence.
Das Gericht fällte gegen den Angeklagten das Todesurteil.
The court passed the death sentence against the defendant.
The preposition helps you recognize the meaning. The literal meaning (court) is often used with 'gegen eine Person' (against a person). The figurative meaning (the end of something) usually appears with 'für eine Sache' (for something).
Das Todesurteil gegen den Mörder wurde bestätigt.
The death sentence against the murderer was upheld.
In the figurative sense, 'Todesurteil' (death sentence) is a very strong, dramatic word. It is used to emphasize that a decision or event definitively ends something.
Die Absage des Investors war das Todesurteil für unser Start-up.
The investor's rejection was the death sentence for our start-up.
death penalty
The Todesstrafe is the state sanction in which a person is to be killed as punishment. The Todesurteil is the court decision by which this punishment is pronounced against a specific person. Thus, the Todesstrafe is imposed through a Todesurteil.
In diesem Fall sprach das Gericht gegen den Angeklagten das Todesurteil aus.
In this case, the court sentenced the defendant to death.
Für dieses schwere Verbrechen sieht das Gesetz die Todesstrafe vor.
For this serious crime, the law provides for the death penalty.
