civil death legal definition

noun

1. Historically, the loss of all civil rights by a person who had been sentenced to death or declared an outlaw for committing a felony or treason. This included the loss of right to contract, the right to sue, and the right to protection under the law. See also attainder and bill of attainder.
2. Today, the loss of certain civil rights, such as the right to vote by a person convicted of or sentenced to imprisonment for a felony. The rights lost, and for what crimes or sentences, varies state to state.