cruel and unusual punishment

noun

: punishment that is very harsh and too severe for the crime

The law forbids cruel and unusual punishment.

Examples of cruel and unusual punishment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the filing, Adinolfi pointed out that life sentences without parole are considered cruel and unusual punishment in most countries. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 14 Dec. 2024

For years, Breed and other city officials said their hands were tied by decisions issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit that deemed it cruel and unusual punishment to penalize someone for sleeping on the streets if no legal shelter was available. —Hannah Wiley, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2024

In response to the suit, lawyers representing the state argued Tuesday that installing systemwide air conditioning quickly would be impossible without additional money from the Legislature and that inmates are not facing cruel and unusual punishment. —Bayliss Wagner, Austin American-Statesman, 31 July 2024

But this summer, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with the city of Grants Pass, finding that camping bans do not amount to cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. —Katu Staff, Baltimore Sun, 15 Nov. 2024

Legal Definition

cruel and unusual punishment

noun

cruel and un·​usu·​al punishment

: punishment that is offensive to the contemporary morality or jurisprudence (as by being degrading, inflicting unnecessary and intentional pain, or being disproportionate to the offense)

nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted

—U.S. Constitution amend. VIII

see also Gregg v. Georgia compare corporal punishment, death penalty

Note: A cruel and unusual punishment is essentially one that the courts consider to violate the Eighth Amendment based on a variety of criteria. The interpretation of what constitutes cruel and unusual punishment has changed over time and has varied from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Most forms of corporal punishment formerly used at common law have been found to be cruel and unusual punishments.