mayhem

noun

may·​hem ˈmā-ˌhem  ˈmā-əm 

plural mayhems

1

: needless or willful damage or violence

movies filled with murder and mayhem

2

a

: willful and permanent deprivation of a body part resulting in the impairment of a person's fighting ability

b

: willful and permanent disabling, mutilation, or disfigurement of any part of the body

Did you know?

Mayhem Has Legal Roots

Legally speaking, mayhem refers to the gruesome crime of deliberately causing an injury that permanently disfigures another. The word comes via Middle English from the Anglo-French verb maheimer ("to maim") and is probably of Germanic origin; the English verb maim comes from the same ancestor. The "disfigurement" sense of mayhem first appeared in English in the 15th century. Centuries later, the word came to refer to any kind of violent behavior. Nowadays, mayhem is frequently used to suggest any kind of chaos or disorder, even in far less fraught circumstances, as in "there was mayhem on the field after the winning goal was scored."

Examples of mayhem in a Sentence

movies filled with murder and mayhem

a criminal who escaped from prison and caused mayhem

Recent Examples on the Web

Where, literally, would Angelenos be without the flying eyes that guide us to our destinations through our traffic mangles and bring us close to mayhem, riot and fire? — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Cummings is seen on video firing several shots after the mayhem began, according to the feds, though he’s not accused of striking anyone with his bullets. — John Annese, New York Daily News, 8 Sep. 2026

But tighter scripting and less mayhem would have helped make his message heard, instead of diluting it with too many shenanigans. — Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2026

Nevertheless, 2022’s Scream, revs the engine of the Scream 4, then hauls it in overdrive when more murderous mayhem storms through Woodsboro. — Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English maym, maheym, mayehem, mayne "mutilation, injury," borrowed from Anglo-French mahain, mahaigne, mahaim, maine, mayme, noun derivative of mahaigner, mainier, maheimer "to injure, maim entry 1"

Note: See the etymology note at maim entry 1. The preservation of this bisyllabic form of the etymon is probably due to its use in law French.

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Rhymes for mayhem

• condemn
• atm
• diadem
• ibidem
• meristem
• clem
• em
• femme
• gem
• hem
• phlegm
• rem

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Kids Definition

mayhem

noun

may·​hem ˈmā-ˌhem  ˈmā-əm 

1

: deliberate permanent crippling or injury of any part of the body

2

: needless or willful damage or violence

Medical Definition

mayhem

noun

may·​hem ˈmā-ˌhem  ˈmā-əm 

: willful and permanent disabling, mutilation, or disfiguring of any part of the body

also : the crime of engaging in mayhem

A Rocklin cosmetic surgeon pleaded "not guilty" to 37 felony counts, including mayhem. … In broadcast media reports, women claimed they had botched plastic surgery procedures that have left them disfigured, disabled or both.

—California Statewide Law Enforcement Association

Legal Definition

mayhem

noun

may·​hem ˈmā-ˌhem, -əm 

: willful and permanent crippling, mutilation, or disfigurement of any part of another's body

also : the crime of engaging in mayhem

Note: Under the Model Penal Code and the codes of the states that follow it, mayhem is encompassed by assault and aggravated assault.

Etymology

Anglo-French mahaim, mahain, literally, mutilation, from Old French mahain, from mahaignier to injure, mutilate