What does "commutation" mean?
Substitution of one thing for another; interchange.
Commutation
noun
noun ·4 syllables ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Substitution of one thing for another; interchange.
- Grammar: commutation is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: agency, alternation, amends, atonement.
- Useful contrasts: augmentation, commutator, execution.
- Usage evidence: I had my purse and commutation ticket stolen while I was sleeping on the train.
How to use "commutation"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "commutation" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "commutation" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "commutation" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "commutation" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "commutation" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "agency" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "commutation", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Substitution of one thing for another; interchange. archaic, countable, formal, uncountable
- 2 The process or habit of journeying to and from work on a regular basis; commuting. US, countable, nonstandard, uncountable
"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."
- 3 the act of putting one thing or person in the place of another: wordnet
- 4 Specifically, the substitution of one kind of payment for another, especially a switch to monetary payment from obligations of labour. countable, uncountable
"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."
- 5 the travel of a commuter wordnet
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 The change to a lesser penalty or punishment by the State countable, uncountable
"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."
- 7 (law) the reduction in severity of a punishment imposed by law wordnet
- 8 Substitution, as a means of discriminating between phonemes. countable, uncountable
- 9 a warrant substituting a lesser punishment for a greater one wordnet
- 10 The reversal of an electric current. countable, uncountable
- 11 A passing from one state to another; change; alteration; mutation. countable, obsolete, uncountable
- 12 The act of giving one thing for another; barter; exchange. countable, obsolete, uncountable
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"I had my purse and commutation ticket stolen while I was sleeping on the train."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "commutation"?
Common synonyms include: agency, alternation, amends, atonement, balancing, battledore and shuttlecock.
How do you use "commutation" in a sentence?
I had my purse and commutation ticket stolen while I was sleeping on the train.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From French commutation, from Latin commūtātiōnem, accusative singular of commūtātiō.
Etymology 2
From commute + -ation.