PoliticsAugust 26, 2026

commutations

kom-yu-TAY-shunz

Definition

The act of reducing a legal penalty or prison sentence to a less severe one.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'commutare', meaning 'to change or alter'. It entered Middle English to describe the act of substituting one thing, such as a punishment, for another.

In the news

The article mentions the Governor's Council's role in approving commutations for individuals currently serving time in prison.

GBH Daily: The baseball pitcher fighting wildfires

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WGBH

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