slaughter

1 of 3

noun (1)

slaugh·​ter ˈslȯ-tər 

1

: the act of killing

specifically : the butchering of livestock for market

2

: killing of great numbers of human beings (as in battle or a massacre) : carnage

slaughter

2 of 3

verb

slaughtered; slaughtering; slaughters

transitive verb

1

: to kill (animals) for food : butcher

2

a

: to kill in a bloody or violent manner : slay

b

: to kill in large numbers : massacre

3

: to discredit, defeat, or demolish completely

slaughterer

ˈslȯ-tər-ər 

noun

slaughterer

3 of 3

noun (2)

slaugh·​ter·​er -ȯtərə(r) 

-ȯtər-

plural -s

: one that slaughters: such as

a

: killer

b

: butcher, meat-packer

called also slaughterman

Synonyms of slaughter

Noun (1)

• massacre

Verb

• massacre
• murder

Examples of slaughter in a Sentence

Noun (1)

the slaughter of innocent people

all civilized nations should protest this senseless slaughter

Verb

Our team got slaughtered yesterday.

modern poultry farms slaughter a vast number of chickens every day

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

And so, at first light, when firefighters had won the day and the smoke cleared to reveal the ostrich flock still standing, the sight didn’t lead to any reconsideration of the night’s theories of clandestine slaughter. — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

He was pulled from slaughter 15 minutes before being loaded on a truck. — Kerri Corrado, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026

Verb

Already, in South Africa, an ostrich flock that survives bird flu would only be quarantined and rigorously tested for reinfection, not slaughtered. — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026

Tens of thousands of people, including children and the elderly, handle live chickens before bringing them to slaughter, creating opportunities for disease transmission from birds to humans. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 20 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse slātra to slaughter; akin to Old English sleaht slaughter, slēan to slay — more at slay

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing slaughter

• like a lamb to the slaughter
• pre-slaughter
• self-slaughter

Rhymes for slaughter

• auteur
• blotter
• cotter
• daughter
• hotter
• mater
• otter
• plotter
• rotter
• spotter
• squatter
• totter

Kids Definition

slaughter

1 of 2 noun

slaugh·​ter ˈslȯt-ər 

1

: the act of killing

especially : the butchering of livestock for market

2

: destruction of human lives in large numbers (as in war or a massacre)

slaughter

2 of 2 verb

1

: to kill an animal for food : butcher

2

: to kill without mercy or in large numbers : massacre

slaughterer

ˈslȯt-ər-ər 

noun