死刑|しけいshikei[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

1. noundeath penalty; capital punishment
   その犯罪はんざいは死刑しけいに値あたいする。↗

   That crime is punishable by death.

• Synonym極刑きょっけいNeutralThe heaviest penalty, usually death, stressing the severity of the punishment, as in 「極刑を望む」; 「死刑」 is the formal name of the penalty.
• Synonym死罪しざいNeutralA crime deserving the death penalty, or the death penalty itself, as in 「死罪に値する」; 「死刑」 is the formal name of the penalty.
• Related処刑しょけいNeutralA noun for the act of carrying out an execution, as in 「公開処刑」; the focus is on the executing, while 「死刑」 is the name of the penalty itself.
• Related刑戮けいりくWrittenAn archaic written term broadly covering punishments and executions, found in old texts and histories; in modern usage say 「死刑」 for this penalty.
• Related処刑することNeutralAn explanatory phrase, not a fixed word, meaning to carry out an execution, i.e. 「処刑」; for the penalty itself use 「死刑」.

Use 「死刑」 for the penalty itself, as in 「死刑判決」 or 「死刑制度」. For the act of carrying it out say 「処刑」; for the heaviest penalty say 「極刑」; for a crime deserving death say 「死罪」. 「刑戮」 is archaic written prose.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 犯罪者はんざいしゃの生命せいめいを断たつ刑罰けいばつ。