commutation

/ˌkɑmjəˈteɪʃən/
noun
  1. The act of reducing a legal punishment, especially a prison sentence, to a less severe one.
    • The governor granted a commutation of the prisoner's sentence from life to 20 years.
    • Her commutation was celebrated by advocates who believed the original sentence was too harsh.
    • After a review, the board recommended commutation of the death penalty to life in prison.
  2. The act of traveling regularly between one's home and workplace, especially by train or bus.
    • She prefers commutation by bicycle to avoid traffic jams.
    • His daily commutation takes over an hour each way.
    • The new train line made commutation much easier for suburban residents.
  3. The process of reversing the direction of an electric current in a motor or generator.
    • Faulty commutation can cause sparking and damage the motor.
    • Proper commutation is essential for the smooth operation of a DC motor.
    • The engineer checked the brushes to ensure good commutation.
  4. The substitution of one form of payment or obligation for another, such as paying a lump sum instead of periodic payments.
    • They agreed to a commutation of the debt, paying a reduced amount to settle it.
    • The commutation of the annuity gave her immediate access to the funds.
    • The pension plan allowed a commutation of monthly benefits into a single payment.
What does "commutation" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean