butcher
12 synonyms for butcher, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A person whose trade is preparing and selling meat.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A person whose trade is preparing and selling meat.
“I bought the lamb chops from the butcher on the corner.”
2. verb
To slaughter animals and cut up the meat for sale.
“The farmer butchers his own pigs every autumn.”
How to use butcher
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
the local butcher
butcher a song
butcher shop
Etymology
From Old French bouchier, "goat slaughterer," from bouc ("goat"), tracing back to a Germanic word for a male goat — the same root as the English word "buck."
Full origin of butcher →Frequently asked questions
What does “butcher” mean?
The word “butcher” means a person whose trade is preparing and selling meat. In plain terms, someone who cuts and sells meat for a living, or (figuratively) to ruin something badly or kill without mercy.
How do you pronounce “butcher”?
“Butcher” is pronounced BUUT-shuh (/ˈbʊt͡ʃɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “butcher” in a sentence?
Here is “butcher” used in a sentence: “I bought the lamb chops from the butcher on the corner.”
What is another word for “butcher”?
Words with a similar meaning to “butcher” include flesher and slayer.
What part of speech is “butcher”?
Depending on how it is used, “butcher” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “butcher” come from?
The word “butcher” comes from Old French. From Old French bouchier, "goat slaughterer," from bouc ("goat"), tracing back to a Germanic word for a male goat — the same root as the English word "buck.".
Is “butcher” a common word?
“Butcher” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “butcher” have?
“Butcher” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person whose trade is preparing and selling meat.
What is the difference between a butcher and someone who "butchers" a task?
A butcher, as a noun, is a person whose trade is preparing and selling meat, a respected skilled profession. Used as a verb outside that trade, "to butcher" something means to ruin or botch it badly, a figurative extension with a negative connotation unrelated to the actual craft.
Why is "butcher" sometimes used to describe a violent person?
"Butcher" can describe someone who kills brutally or without mercy, extending the literal meat-cutting trade into a harsh metaphor for extreme violence. This sense is figurative and carries strong negative judgment, distinct from the neutral professional meaning.
How is "butcher" used as a verb in cooking versus in criticism?
As a verb, "to butcher" literally means to slaughter animals and cut up the meat for sale, a standard part of food preparation. Figuratively, it means to ruin or botch something badly, as in "he butchered the presentation," with no literal violence involved.
