manslaughter

man-slaugh-ter · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    (law) The crime of killing a person without premeditation or malice aforethought, distinguished from murder.

  2. 2.

    (historical) The killing of a human being by another.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    voluntary manslaughter — killing in the heat of passion or under provocation
  • •
    involuntary manslaughter — unintentional killing through negligence or recklessness
  • •
    vehicular manslaughter — killing caused by reckless driving

Related words

See also: homicide, killing, murder
Synonyms: homicide, killing

Etymology

A compound of "man" + "slaughter," from Old English. The legal sense developed in medieval English law to distinguish unintentional or provoked killings from premeditated murder.