noun
Uncommon
mayhem
MAY-hehm
Mayhem (noun) means Wild confusion, disorder, or chaos. Example: “The power cut plunged the office into complete mayhem.”
noun
1
Wild confusion, disorder, or chaos.
"The power cut plunged the office into complete mayhem."
"There was mayhem in the stadium after the final goal."
2
The crime of deliberately and violently injuring or maiming someone.
"He was charged with mayhem after the brutal attack."
How to use mayhem
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTotal chaos or disorder — everything happening at once and out of control.
Common pairings
sheer mayhem
cause mayhem
chaos and mayhem
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Word forms
- Plural
- mayhems
- Third person singular
- mayhems
- Past tense
- mayhemed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The power cut plunged the office into complete _____.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman mahaim ("mutilation"), ultimately from a Germanic root meaning "to cripple" — the everyday "chaos" sense developed later from the legal one.
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “mayhem” mean?
The word “mayhem” means wild confusion, disorder, or chaos. In plain terms, total chaos or disorder — everything happening at once and out of control.
How do you pronounce “mayhem”?
“Mayhem” is pronounced MAY-hehm (/ˈmeɪəm/ in IPA).
How do you use “mayhem” in a sentence?
Here is “mayhem” used in a sentence: “The power cut plunged the office into complete mayhem.”
What part of speech is “mayhem”?
“Mayhem” is a noun.
Where does the word “mayhem” come from?
The word “mayhem” comes from Germanic. From Anglo-Norman mahaim ("mutilation"), ultimately from a Germanic root meaning "to cripple" — the everyday "chaos" sense developed later from the legal one.
Is “mayhem” a common word?
“Mayhem” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “mayhem” have?
“Mayhem” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: wild confusion, disorder, or chaos.
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