slaughter
SLAW-tuh
Slaughter (noun) means the killing of animals for food. Example: “Rules about the slaughter of farm animals are meant to reduce their suffering.”
noun
1
The killing of animals for food.
"Rules about the slaughter of farm animals are meant to reduce their suffering."
"Many people choose to eat less meat because of how animals are raised before slaughter."
"The cattle were sent to slaughter at the end of the season."
2
The brutal killing of many people; a massacre.
"Historians still debate the scale of the slaughter."
verb
1
To kill animals for food, typically on a large scale.
"The farm slaughters its own pigs on site."
"Local butchers slaughter the lambs humanely before preparing the meat for sale."
"Cattle are slaughtered at the plant and then sent to supermarkets across the country."
2
To kill a large number of people brutally.
"The invading army slaughtered the villagers without mercy."
How to use slaughter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishKilling animals for meat, or the brutal mass killing of people.
Common pairings
mass slaughter
sent to slaughter
the slaughter of innocents
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Word forms
- Plural
- slaughters
- Third person singular
- slaughters
- Past tense
- slaughtered
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Rules about the _____ of farm animals are meant to reduce their suffering.
Etymology
From Old Norse *slahtr, related to the verb slay — literally the same root that gives "laughter" its ending.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for slaughter
See all rhymes for 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.
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