Commutation

Quick meaning: Commutation is a noun meaning (formal or archaic) Substitution of one thing for another; interchange.

Meaning

(formal or archaic) Substitution of one thing for another; interchange.

More Meanings

1. Specifically, the substitution of one kind of payment for another, especially a switch to monetary payment from obligations of labour.
2. (law) The change to a lesser penalty or punishment by the State
3. (linguistics) Substitution, as a means of discriminating between phonemes.
4. (electronics) The reversal of an electric current.
5. (US, nonstandard) The process or habit of journeying to and from work on a regular basis; commuting.
6. (obsolete) A passing from one state to another; change; alteration; mutation.
7. (obsolete) The act of giving one thing for another; barter; exchange.

Example Sentences

Professor Postan has argued in favour of a rapid move towards commutation in the twelfth century which slackened or even went into reverse in the course of the thirteenth.

Monsieur the Marquis de Sade [was] now holed up in one of his châteaux while his wife worked for the commutation of a sentence passed on him recently for poisoning and buggery.

When Mary worked as an adjunct, she deliberately never calculated how much commutation and the babysitter were costing because she suspected that she was probably losing money on the deal.

but there was no city officer to stand forth and ask for it — not even so much as to require frequent trains, low fares, and commutations on that part of the road which ran within the city limits.

Word Forms

• commutations

Synonyms for commutation

Depending on context, synonyms include commuting, re-sentencing.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include commuting, re-sentencing, changeover, switchover, conversion, set-off.

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