A sentence is a decree of punishment. In law, a sentence forms the final explicit act of a judge-ruled process, and also the symbolic principal act connected to his function. The sentence can generally involve a decree of imprisonment, a fine and/or other punishments against a defendant convicted of a crime. Those imprisoned for multiple crimes will serve a consecutive sentence (in which the period of imprisonment equals the sum of all the sentences), a concurrent sentence (in which the period of imprisonment equals the length of the longest sentence), or somewhere in between, sometimes subject to a cap. If a sentence gets reduced to a less harsh punishment, then the sentence is said to have been "mitigated" or "commuted". Rarely (depending on circumstances) murder charges are "mitigated" and reduced to manslaughter charges. However, in certain legal systems, a defendant may be punished beyond the terms of the sentence, e.g. social stigma, loss of governmental benefits, or, collectively, the collateral consequences of criminal charges.

Ein Urteil ist eine wertende Entscheidung über einen bestimmten Sachverhalt oder Erkenntnisgegenstand.

In diritto, la sentenza è il provvedimento di un giudice con il quale viene definita, in tutto od in parte, una controversia tra due o più parti processuali.

Sentença jurídica é o nome que se dá ao ato do juiz que decide determinada questão posta em juízo, resolvendo o conflito de interesses que suscitou a abertura do processo entre as partes. A sentença assume feições próprias de acordo com os diversos sistemas jurídicos existentes, mas em todos eles compreende a finalidade essencial de solucionar uma questão posta em julgamento.

La sentencia es una resolución judicial dictada por un juez o tribunal que pone fin a la litis (civil, de familia, mercantil, laboral, contencioso-administrativo, etc.) o causa penal.