electric chair

noun

Definition of electric chair

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

People put to death via the electric chair often suffered graphic burns, while those who were put into gas chambers visibly choked to death. — Abdullah Shihipar, Teen Vogue, "Lethal Injection Drugs and the Death Penalty, Explained," 30 Oct. 2018 Mortality was a perennial preoccupation, echoed in images of skulls, suicides and electric chairs. — Brenda Cronin, WSJ, "Warhol Takes New York, Again," 26 Oct. 2018 The last time Tennessee put someone to death by electric chair was 2007. — Travis Loller, The Seattle Times, "Lawyer: Inmate’s choice of electric chair won’t buy him time," 9 Oct. 2018 Prior to the use of injections, other methods were used to execute incarcerated people: gas chambers, electric chairs, and firing squads. — Abdullah Shihipar, Teen Vogue, "Lethal Injection Drugs and the Death Penalty, Explained," 30 Oct. 2018 Nebraska has not executed an inmate since 1997, when the state’s method of execution was the electric chair. — Washington Post, "Attorneys seek to spare ex-doctor from death for 4 slayings," 13 June 2018 Hays was sentenced to death and his 1997 execution in Alabama's electric chair was the first in the state since 1913 for a white-on-black crime. — Leada Gore, AL.com, "'Last lynching in America' shocked Mobile in 1981, bankrupted the KKK," 26 Apr. 2018 The state’s last execution took place in 1997, using the electric chair. — Washington Post, "Nebraska sets execution date for longest-serving inmate," 5 July 2018 The last scene still provokes me: the character sits at the end of the stage, hair shaved off, strapped down to the electric chair crying out to anyone to help her. — Kt Hawbaker, Chicago Reader, "What were you watching, reading, or listening to when you first came out?," 15 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'electric chair.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.