slaughter
10 synonyms for slaughter, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The killing of animals for food.
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
The killing of animals for food.
“Rules about the slaughter of farm animals are meant to reduce their suffering.”
How to use slaughter
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
mass slaughter
sent to slaughter
the slaughter of innocents
Etymology
From Old Norse *slahtr, related to the verb slay — literally the same root that gives "laughter" its ending.
Full origin of slaughter →Frequently asked questions
What does “slaughter” mean?
The word “slaughter” means the killing of animals for food. In plain terms, killing animals for meat, or the brutal mass killing of people.
How do you pronounce “slaughter”?
“Slaughter” is pronounced SLAW-tuh (/ˈslɔːtə/ in IPA).
How do you use “slaughter” in a sentence?
Here is “slaughter” used in a sentence: “The cattle were sent to slaughter at the end of the season.”
What part of speech is “slaughter”?
Depending on how it is used, “slaughter” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “slaughter” come from?
The word “slaughter” comes from Old Norse. From Old Norse *slahtr, related to the verb slay — literally the same root that gives "laughter" its ending.
Is “slaughter” a common word?
“Slaughter” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “slaughter” have?
“Slaughter” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the killing of animals for food.
What is the difference between 'slaughter' and 'murder'?
'Slaughter' typically implies the brutal killing of many victims at once, such as animals for food or people in a massacre, emphasizing scale and brutality. 'Murder' refers to the unlawful killing of a person, usually one at a time, and is a specific legal term.
Is 'slaughter' only used for killing animals?
No, 'slaughter' can describe both the killing of animals for food, typically on a large scale, and the brutal killing of many people, as in a massacre. Context determines which meaning applies.
When is 'slaughter' used figuratively?
'Slaughter' is sometimes used informally and figuratively to describe a lopsided defeat, such as in sports, where one side overwhelmingly beats the other, though the dictionary's core meaning refers to literal killing.
