lynch

play

verb \ ˈlinch \

Definition of lynch

transitive verb

:to put to death (as by hanging) by mob action without legal approval or permission

The accused killer was lynched by an angry mob.

—

lyncher

noun

See lynch defined for English-language learners

See lynch defined for kids

Examples of lynch in a Sentence

The accused killer was lynched by an angry mob.

Recent Examples of lynch from the Web

The sign commemorates Emmett Till, the black teenager kidnapped and lynched in 1955 after whistling at a white woman in a grocery store.

— emily wagster pettus, The Seattle Times, "Civil rights marker rededicated on birthdate of lynch victim," 25 July 2017
The death in April of Mashal Khan, a Pakistani college student brutally lynched by his fellow students after being spuriously tagged as a blasphemer, made global headlines.

— The Economist, "Reconciliation is not impossible, but it will be a long, slow process," 22 July 2017
Men were lynched; women were thrown off bridges; children were thrown into fires.

— law w., The Root, "#NeverForget: 100 Years Ago, East St. Louis Was on Fire," 2 July 2017
Blacks were also lynched in other areas of the city.

— allison keyes, Smithsonian, "The East St. Louis Race Riot Left Dozens Dead, Devastating a Community on the Rise," 30 June 2017
And an honorary mention to the lesbian group whose Dyke March in Chicago banned a rainbow flag with the Star of David on it — while hailing Muslim countries where gay people are lucky not to be lynched every day.

— andrew sullivan, Daily Intelligencer, "Cardinal Pell and the Vatican’s Day of Reckoning," 30 June 2017
My grandmother was born in the Mississippi Delta, picked cotton, and had a male cousin who was lynched.

— danielle jackson, Longreads, "Zadie Smith Takes on Black Pain With a Light Touch," 28 June 2017
The marker commemorates Till, a black teenager who was kidnapped and lynched in 1955.

— CBS News, "Civil rights sign honoring Emmett Till vandalized in Mississippi," 26 June 2017
Till was kidnapped and lynched in Money, Mississippi, in 1955 after the incident at the Bryant Grocery store.

— jamiel lynch, CNN, "Emmett Till marker near grocery store site vandalized," 26 June 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of lynch

lynch law

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First Known Use: 1835

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LYNCH Defined for English Language Learners

lynch

play

verb

Definition of lynch for English Language Learners

: to kill (someone) illegally as punishment for a crime

Law Dictionary

lynch

play

transitive verb \ ˈlinch \

legal Definition of lynch

:to put to death (as by hanging) by mob action without legal sanction

—

lyncher

noun

Learn More about lynch

See words that rhyme with lynch Spanish Central: Translation of lynch Nglish: Translation of lynch for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of lynch for Arabic speakers

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lynch

Definition of lynch

lyncher

Examples of lynch in a Sentence

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Origin and Etymology of lynch

LYNCH Defined for English Language Learners

lynch

Definition of lynch for English Language Learners

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lynch

legal Definition of lynch

lyncher

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lynch

Definition of lynch

lyncher

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LYNCH Defined for English Language Learners

lynch

Definition of lynch for English Language Learners

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lynch

legal Definition of lynch

lyncher

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