latae sententiae

adjective

Of a penalty, coming into force as soon as a law is broken, by force of the law itself (such as excommunication for various specified offences).

OriginLatin latae sententiae →
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Meanings

adjectivelatae sententiae (not comparable)
  1. not comparablepostpositionalcanon lawOf a penalty, coming into force as soon as a law is broken, by force of the law itself (such as excommunication for various specified offences).

Origin

  1. Latinlatae sententiae“of a sentence [already] passed”
  2. Englishlatae sententiae

From Latin latae sententiae (“of a sentence [already] passed”).

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

latae sententiae. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/latae%20sententiae

MLA

“latae sententiae.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/latae%20sententiae. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “latae sententiae,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/latae%20sententiae.

Source: latae sententiae on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.