slaughter

1 of 2

noun

slaugh·​ter ˈslȯ-tər How to pronounce slaughter (audio)
1
: the act of killing
specifically : the butchering of livestock for market
2
: killing of great numbers of human beings (as in battle or a massacre) : carnage

slaughter

2 of 2

verb

slaughtered; slaughtering; slaughters

transitive verb

1
: to kill (animals) for food : butcher
2
a
: to kill in a bloody or violent manner : slay
b
: to kill in large numbers : massacre
3
: to discredit, defeat, or demolish completely
slaughterer noun

Examples of slaughter in a Sentence

Noun the slaughter of innocent people all civilized nations should protest this senseless slaughter Verb Our team got slaughtered yesterday. modern poultry farms slaughter a vast number of chickens every day
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The women in the fresco are both hunters and dancers, suggesting that the duality of slaughter and revelry was a central tenet. Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Feb. 2025 More victims sent to slaughter In 2024, pig butchering revenue grew nearly 40% year over year, with the number of deposits to pig butchering scams growing nearly 210% over the same period, according to Chainalysis. Dylan Butts, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2025
Verb
The Minervois is a sunny land of black truffles, red marble, oak and juniper forests and castles constructed by Cathars (pescatarian Christians who disdained the symbol of the cross, were branded as heretics and subsequently slaughtered wholesale by Papal decree in the 13th century). Tom Mullen, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025 As a result of the spread, infected birds have been selectively slaughtered across the country, sometimes millions of birds at a single location. Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slaughter

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse slātra to slaughter; akin to Old English sleaht slaughter, slēan to slay — more at slay

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of slaughter was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slaughter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slaughter. Accessed 18 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

slaughter

1 of 2 noun
slaugh·​ter ˈslȯt-ər How to pronounce slaughter (audio)
1
: the act of killing
especially : the butchering of livestock for market
2
: destruction of human lives in large numbers (as in war or a massacre)

slaughter

2 of 2 verb
1
: to kill an animal for food : butcher
2
: to kill without mercy or in large numbers : massacre
slaughterer noun

More from Merriam-Webster on slaughter

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