electric chair
noun
1
: a chair used in legal electrocution
2
: the penalty of death by electrocution
Examples of electric chair in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
When the state legislature decided in a near-unanimous vote to ban firing squads in 2009, lethal injection seemed to be ascendant, with death penalty supporters and foes viewing firing squads and the electric chair as outdated.
—
Kim Bellware, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2023
He was convicted in July 1979 and executed by electric chair on Jan. 24, 1989.
—Christine Pelisek, Peoplemag, 4 Oct. 2023
He was executed on March 9, 1981, by electric chair.
—Veronica Fulton, NBC News, 10 Sep. 2023
The most infamous were of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were both sent to the electric chair on June 19, 1953, having been convicted on espionage charges for passing details of the atomic-weapons program to the Soviet Union.
—Paul Elie, The New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2023
The man who’d gotten her pregnant had gone to the electric chair.
—Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, The New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2023
His recent series of pictures of electric chairs, silkscreened in ghastly colors, comprises a devastating and disturbing attack on the American Establishment.
—Stephen Birmingham, Town & Country, 10 Aug. 2023
Nevertheless, grisly executions by electric chair, hanging, gas chamber and firing squad would proceed for the better part of the next century.
—Lauren Gill, ProPublica, 29 Apr. 2023
There are the stories of the many lawyers and activists who fought to save Paula from the electric chair and end capital punishment for children.
—Rosa Brooks, Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2023
See More
Kim Bellware, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2023
He was convicted in July 1979 and executed by electric chair on Jan. 24, 1989.
—Christine Pelisek, Peoplemag, 4 Oct. 2023
He was executed on March 9, 1981, by electric chair.
—Veronica Fulton, NBC News, 10 Sep. 2023
The most infamous were of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, who were both sent to the electric chair on June 19, 1953, having been convicted on espionage charges for passing details of the atomic-weapons program to the Soviet Union.
—Paul Elie, The New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2023
The man who’d gotten her pregnant had gone to the electric chair.
—Honorée Fanonne Jeffers, The New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2023
His recent series of pictures of electric chairs, silkscreened in ghastly colors, comprises a devastating and disturbing attack on the American Establishment.
—Stephen Birmingham, Town & Country, 10 Aug. 2023
Nevertheless, grisly executions by electric chair, hanging, gas chamber and firing squad would proceed for the better part of the next century.
—Lauren Gill, ProPublica, 29 Apr. 2023
There are the stories of the many lawyers and activists who fought to save Paula from the electric chair and end capital punishment for children.
—Rosa Brooks, Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'electric chair.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near electric chair
Cite this Entry
“Electric chair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electric%20chair. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Legal Definition
electric chair
noun
elec·tric chair
1
: a chair used in performing a legal electrocution
2
: the penalty of death by electrocution
More from Merriam-Webster on electric chair
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about electric chair
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