electrocute

verb

elec·​tro·​cute i-ˈlek-trə-ˌkyüt How to pronounce electrocute (audio)
electrocuted; electrocuting

transitive verb

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
But 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
He 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
2
: 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
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
In 1982, he was sentenced to death by lethal injection or electrocution. Lola Ogunnaike

Examples of electrocute in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
On Thursday, that became Mateo’s last act when he was electrocuted while hanging up the lights on a roof in an unincorporated area of Escondido. Kristen Taketa, The Mercury News, 25 Nov. 2024 Man installing Christmas lights in Escondido dies after being electrocuted. Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 24 Nov. 2024 Around 2013, Greer recalls a case where a U.K. consumer died after being electrocuted from a knockoff Apple charger. Annie Palmer,katie Tarasov, CNBC, 25 Oct. 2024 Brazilian rock singer Ayres Sasaki was electrocuted last week during a live performance in Brazil The musician died instantly after reportedly hugging a soaking-wet fan during a concert on July 13 at the Solar Hotel in Salinopolis. Bruce Haring, Deadline, 20 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for electrocute 

Word History

Etymology

electr- + -cute (as in execute)

First Known Use

1889, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of electrocute was in 1889

Dictionary Entries Near electrocute

Cite this Entry

“Electrocute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electrocute. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

electrocute

verb
elec·​tro·​cute i-ˈlek-trə-ˌkyüt How to pronounce electrocute (audio)
electrocuted; electrocuting
1
: to execute (a criminal) by electricity
2
: to kill or injure by electric shock
electrocution noun

Medical Definition

electrocute

transitive verb
elec·​tro·​cute i-ˈlek-trə-ˌkyüt How to pronounce electrocute (audio)
electrocuted; electrocuting
1
: to kill or severely injure by electric shock
2
: to execute (a criminal) by electricity
electrocution noun

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

More from Merriam-Webster on electrocute

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!