noun · 12 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/kɒmjuːˈteɪʃən/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:K AA2 M Y AH0 T EY1 SH AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
Substitution of one thing for another; interchange.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, countable, formal, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Specifically, the substitution of one kind of payment for another, especially a switch to monetary payment from obligations of labour.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
The change to a lesser penalty or punishment by the State
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Substitution, as a means of discriminating between phonemes.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: human-sciences, linguistics, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
The reversal of an electric current.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: commuting
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: travel, traveling, travelling
11
noun
Meaning 11
(law) the reduction in severity of a punishment imposed by law
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: re-sentencing
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: clemency, mercifulness, mercy
12
noun
Meaning 12
a warrant substituting a lesser punishment for a greater one
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: warrant
History
Etymology
From French commutation, from Latin commūtātiōnem, accusative singular of commūtātiō.
Etymology tree ▲ English commutation English ticket English commutation ticket English commute Proto-Indo-European *-tis Proto-Indo-European *-Hō Proto-Indo-European *-tiHō Proto-Italic *-tiō Latin -tiō Latin -ātiōlbor. Old French -ationbor. Middle English -acioun English -ation English commutation From commute + -ation.
Across languages
Translations
30 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
смя́на
(smjána)
— a passing from one state to another; change; alteration; mutation
Bulgarian:
размя́на
(razmjána)
— a passing from one state to another; change; alteration; mutation
Catalan:
commutació
— a passing from one state to another; change; alteration; mutation
Indonesian:
pergantian
— a passing from one state to another; change; alteration; mutation
Indonesian:
komutasi
— a passing from one state to another; change; alteration; mutation
Russian:
измене́ние
(izmenénije)
— a passing from one state to another; change; alteration; mutation
Russian:
сме́на
(sména)
— a passing from one state to another; change; alteration; mutation
Russian:
замеще́ние
(zameščénije)
— a passing from one state to another; change; alteration; mutation
Spanish:
conmutación
— a passing from one state to another; change; alteration; mutation
Bulgarian:
смекча́ване на наказа́ние
(smekčávane na nakazánie)
— the change to a lesser penalty or punishment by the State
Chinese Mandarin:
減刑 /减刑
(jiǎnxíng)
— the change to a lesser penalty or punishment by the State
Dutch:
strafvermindering
— the change to a lesser penalty or punishment by the State
Finnish:
lievennys
— the change to a lesser penalty or punishment by the State
Russian:
измене́ние ме́ры пресече́ния
(izmenénije méry presečénija)
— the change to a lesser penalty or punishment by the State
Russian:
смягче́ние наказа́ния
(smjaxčénije nakazánija)
— the change to a lesser penalty or punishment by the State
Spanish:
conmutación penal
— the change to a lesser penalty or punishment by the State
Spanish:
indulto
— the change to a lesser penalty or punishment by the State
Bulgarian:
замя́на
(zamjána)
— the act of giving one thing for another; barter; exchange
Bulgarian:
размя́на
(razmjána)
— the act of giving one thing for another; barter; exchange
Finnish:
vaihtaminen
— the act of giving one thing for another; barter; exchange
Russian:
заме́на
(zaména)
— the act of giving one thing for another; barter; exchange
Russian:
ба́ртер
(bártɛr)
— the act of giving one thing for another; barter; exchange
Russian:
разме́н
(razmén)
— the act of giving one thing for another; barter; exchange
Bulgarian:
превклю́чване
(prevkljúčvane)
— the reversal of an electric current
Bulgarian:
комута́ция
(komutácija)
— the reversal of an electric current
Catalan:
commutació
— the reversal of an electric current
Finnish:
kommutointi
— the reversal of an electric current
Portuguese:
comutação
— the reversal of an electric current
Russian:
коммута́ция
(kommutácija)
— the reversal of an electric current
Spanish:
conmutación
— the reversal of an electric current