verb
electrocute
ih-LEHKT-ruhk-yoot
verb
1
To kill someone using an electric shock.
"The exposed wire nearly electrocuted the repairman."
2
To give someone a severe (not necessarily fatal) electric shock.
"He was electrocuted when he touched the faulty switch, but survived."
How to Use Electrocute
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo injure or kill by electric shock.
Common mistake
Strictly, "electrocute" implies death — for a non-fatal shock, "shocked" is often more accurate, though informal use covers both.
Word Forms
electrocuted past tense, electrocutes singular
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Etymology
A blend of "electro-" and "execute," coined around the introduction of the electric chair in the late 1800s.