abattoir

noun

ab·​at·​toir ˈa-bə-ˌtwär 

-ˌtwȯr, 

-ˌtȯr

plural abattoirs

: a place where animals are butchered : slaughterhouse

Mr. Foley worked previously at a pig abattoir and reckoned he was beyond such queasiness.

—Tony Horwitz

Bulls are precious, a good one fetching $400 or more at the abattoir …

—Peter Meredith

Examples of abattoir in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That includes the pig Specky has been forced to kill that day, his inauguration as the new kid at the abattoir — somehow, come sundown, the beast is back, laddishly forgiving of Specky, and ready to share a pint with him. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2026

Another name for this kind of church is charnel house, which to me evokes the image of an abattoir. — Kristin Idaszak, Longreads, 22 Oct. 2026

The abattoir passed from the British to Japanese occupying forces in 1937 and then to the new Chinese authorities in 1946, retaining its original function until the late 1950s. — New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2026

On cross-examination, defense attorney Blair Berk prodded Wallace to admit that her chemical analysis — done months after prosecutors believe Burke turned his garage into an abattoir — did not definitively prove the presence of blood. — Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, from stem of abattre "to strike down, slaughter" + -oir -ory entry 1 — more at abate

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for abattoir

• alcazar
• autocar
• avatar
• belshazzar
• caviar
• caviare
• cinnabar
• commissar
• condylar
• deodar
• handlebar
• isobar

Kids Definition

abattoir

noun

ab·​at·​toir ˈab-ə-ˌtwär 

: slaughterhouse