massacre

[ mas-uh-ker ]
See synonyms for massacre on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the unnecessary, indiscriminate killing of a large number of human beings or animals, as in barbarous warfare or persecution or for revenge or plunder.

  2. a general slaughter, as of persons or animals: the massacre of millions during the war.

  1. Informal. a crushing defeat, especially in sports.

verb (used with object),mas·sa·cred, mas·sa·cring.
  1. to kill unnecessarily and indiscriminately, especially a large number of persons.

  2. Informal. to defeat decisively, especially in sports.

Origin of massacre

1
First recorded in 1575–85; (noun), from Middle French massacre, noun derivative of massacrer,Old French maçacrer, macecler, probably from unattested Vulgar Latin matteūcculāre, verbal derivative of unattested matteūca “mallet” (see mashie, mace1); (verb) from Middle French massacrer

synonym study For massacre

See slaughter.

Other words for massacre

Other words from massacre

  • mas·sa·crer [mas-uh-krer], /ˈmæs ə krər/, noun
  • un·mas·sa·cred, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for massacre

massacre

/ (ˈmæsəkə) /


noun
  1. the wanton or savage killing of large numbers of people, as in battle

  2. informal an overwhelming defeat, as in a game

verb(tr)
  1. to kill indiscriminately or in large numbers

  2. informal to defeat overwhelmingly

Origin of massacre

1
C16: from Old French, of unknown origin

Derived forms of massacre

  • massacrer (ˈmæsəkrə), noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012