massacre

mas-sa-cre · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    (noun) The indiscriminate and brutal killing of many people.

  2. 2.

    (noun, informal) A heavy defeat, especially in sports.

  3. 3.

    (verb) To kill a large number of people or animals indiscriminately and brutally.

  4. 4.

    (verb, informal) To defeat very badly.

Forms

plural: massacres

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    Boston Massacre — A 1770 confrontation in which British soldiers killed five colonists
  • •
    massacre of the innocents — The killing of young children by Herod; any mass killing of children

Related words

Antonyms: protection, salvation
See also: atrocity, carnage, genocide, slaughter
Synonyms: butchery, carnage, slaughter

Etymology

From French massacre ("slaughter, butchery"), possibly from Old French macecle ("slaughterhouse") or from a Vulgar Latin form related to mactare ("to slaughter").