electrocute
verb
elec·tro·cute
i-ˈlek-trə-ˌkyüt 
electrocuted; electrocuting
1
: to kill or severely injure by electric shock
Because of flawed electrical work by contractors, the bulletin stated, soldiers at U.S. bases in Iraq had received severe electrical shocks, and some had even been electrocuted.—
James Risen
James RisenBut if a power outage occurs, the PV [photovoltaic] system has to shut down or it could electrocute utility workers who think they're working on dead lines.—Popular Science
Popular ScienceHe was working on Pier 38 on the West Side of Manhattan when he was accidently electrocuted by a high-voltage wire. He suffered second- and third-degree burns and had to undergo painful skin grafts.—Robert I. Friedman
Robert I. Friedman2
: to execute (a criminal) by electricity
Two of the big fish, Emanuel (Mendy) Weiss and Louis Capone, ultimately were convicted and electrocuted with the boss himself …—Scott Christianson
Scott Christianson
electrocution
noun
Last year, we spent our vacation in a rustic cabin in Burgundy, where we … risked electrocution every time we recharged our laptop using the cabin's rustic, non-grounded electrical outlets.
—Laura Colby
Laura Colby
In 1982, he was sentenced to death by lethal injection or electrocution.
—Lola Ogunnaike
Lola Ogunnaike
Examples of electrocute in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While working as a lineman two years ago, James was electrocuted and lost half his face.
—Eileen Finan, Peoplemag, 9 Nov. 2023
So when all the actors jumped in, they were slightly electrocuted.
—Jenelle Riley, Variety, 3 Nov. 2023
In June 2021, half of James’s face, including his nose and his left eye, was destroyed after he was electrocuted on the job as a lineman — and doctors also had to amputate his dominant left arm.
—Eileen Finan, Peoplemag, 10 Nov. 2023
One person is dead and four others were injured after they were electrocuted in a fountain at the Harbourside Place in Jupiter, Florida, first responders said.
—Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 23 Oct. 2023
Two were electrocuted to death while hiding in a high-voltage transformer.
—Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2023
While the first night of torrential rain killed morale — with some of my campmates’ tents flooded by several inches of standing water, their clothes, food and bedding soaked, and people getting electrocuted by waterlogged extension cords — the following day saw burners at their best.
—Morena Duwe, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2023
The lift came into contact with a powerline, and the man was electrocuted, according to authorities.
—Isabella Volmert, Dallas News, 23 Aug. 2023
The majority were shot, but others were electrocuted by the 5,000-volt border fence or blown up by land mines.
—Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Aug. 2023
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Eileen Finan, Peoplemag, 9 Nov. 2023
So when all the actors jumped in, they were slightly electrocuted.
—Jenelle Riley, Variety, 3 Nov. 2023
In June 2021, half of James’s face, including his nose and his left eye, was destroyed after he was electrocuted on the job as a lineman — and doctors also had to amputate his dominant left arm.
—Eileen Finan, Peoplemag, 10 Nov. 2023
One person is dead and four others were injured after they were electrocuted in a fountain at the Harbourside Place in Jupiter, Florida, first responders said.
—Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 23 Oct. 2023
Two were electrocuted to death while hiding in a high-voltage transformer.
—Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2023
While the first night of torrential rain killed morale — with some of my campmates’ tents flooded by several inches of standing water, their clothes, food and bedding soaked, and people getting electrocuted by waterlogged extension cords — the following day saw burners at their best.
—Morena Duwe, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2023
The lift came into contact with a powerline, and the man was electrocuted, according to authorities.
—Isabella Volmert, Dallas News, 23 Aug. 2023
The majority were shot, but others were electrocuted by the 5,000-volt border fence or blown up by land mines.
—Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'electrocute.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
electr- + -cute (as in execute)
First Known Use
1889, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Dictionary Entries Near electrocute
Cite this Entry
“Electrocute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electrocute. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
electrocute
verb
elec·tro·cute
i-ˈlek-trə-ˌkyüt
electrocuted; electrocuting
1
: to execute (a criminal) by electricity
2
: to kill by electric shock
Medical Definition
electrocute
transitive verb
elec·tro·cute
i-ˈlek-trə-ˌkyüt
electrocuted; electrocuting
1
: to kill or severely injure by electric shock
2
: to execute (a criminal) by electricity
Legal Definition
electrocute
transitive verb
elec·tro·cute
electrocuted; electrocuting
: to execute (a convicted criminal) by electricity
electrocution
noun
Etymology
electro-, combining form meaning “electric” + execute
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