The mechanoluminescence spectra of (Zn, Cd)S phosphors shift towards shorter wavelength side as compared to the photoluminescence spectra, however, the photoluminescence spectra shift towards shorter wavelength side with increasing pressure with less pressure coefficient. This finding eliminates the thermal population mechanism and suggests the electrical excitation mechanism for the mechanoluminescence excitation. The decay of mechanoluminescence after the deformation (Zn, Cd)S phosphors may be controlled by the recombination rate of holes and electrons, i.e. by the finite times required for the liberation of the electrons from the traps and for the electron transport, and consequently the decay of mechanoluminescence may be similar to the decay of photoluminescence.