stay of execution
noun phrase
: an order that temporarily stops an execution
The court issued a stay of execution.
Examples of stay of execution in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But Roman would be granted a stay of execution: rather than being zeroed out, it would be put on life support.
—
Nadia Drake, Scientific American, 3 June 2025
Gorsuch sided with the court majority in all applications for a stay of execution reviewed in the previous term.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
The Supreme Court, as is common, did not explain the reasons for turning down a last-ditch petition and a motion for stay of execution filed Friday by Rogers’ attorneys.
—Victoria Ballard, Sun Sentinel, 14 May 2025
The attorneys filed a petition and a motion for a stay of execution Friday at the U.S. Supreme Court, a day after the Florida Supreme Court rejected Rogers’ arguments.
—Jim Saunders, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stay of execution
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Nadia Drake, Scientific American, 3 June 2025
Gorsuch sided with the court majority in all applications for a stay of execution reviewed in the previous term.
—Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
The Supreme Court, as is common, did not explain the reasons for turning down a last-ditch petition and a motion for stay of execution filed Friday by Rogers’ attorneys.
—Victoria Ballard, Sun Sentinel, 14 May 2025
The attorneys filed a petition and a motion for a stay of execution Friday at the U.S. Supreme Court, a day after the Florida Supreme Court rejected Rogers’ arguments.
—Jim Saunders, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for stay of execution
Cite this Entry
“Stay of execution.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stay%20of%20execution. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share