massacre

[mas-uh-ker]

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.

   Synonyms: genocide, butchery, extermination, carnage

2. a general slaughter, as of persons or animals.

   the massacre of millions during the war.

   Synonyms: genocide, butchery, extermination, carnage

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

verb (used with object)

massacred, massacring 

1. to kill unnecessarily and indiscriminately, especially a large number of persons.

   Synonyms: slay

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

massacre

/ ˈmæsəkə, ˈmæsəkrə /

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

1. to kill indiscriminately or in large numbers

2. informal,  to defeat overwhelmingly

Other Word Forms

• massacrer noun
• unmassacred adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of massacre¹

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” ( mashie, mace ¹ ); (verb) from Middle French massacrer

Word History and Origins

Origin of massacre¹

C16: from Old French, of unknown origin

Synonym Study

See slaughter.

Example Sentences

It is alleged that some victims of the massacre were strangled if they took too long to starve to death.

From BBC

"Three days ago they targeted one of the biggest hospitals in el-Fasher and resulted in a massive massacre of patients and medical staff."

From BBC

Politicians, police officers, soldiers and senior government officials have all been targeted by the cartels, and the massacre of civilians is now the norm.

From Los Angeles Times

For China, Japan's brutal military campaign and occupation are among the darkest chapters of its past – and the massacre in Nanjing, then the capital, an even deeper wound.

From BBC

Last year, it acknowledged for the first time that its soldiers had carried out a "massacre" in Senegal in which West African troops were killed in 1944.

From BBC

Related Words

• assassination 
• bloodbath 
• bloodshed 
• carnage 
• extermination www.thesaurus.com
• genocide 
• murder 
• slaughter 
• slaying www.thesaurus.com

When To Use

What does massacre mean?

A massacre is a large-scale killing of people or animals, especially defenseless ones.The word implies that such a killing was especially unnecessary, brutal, and indiscriminate. An event in which soldiers kill many civilians could be called a massacre. Mass shootings are massacres.Massacre can also be used in a more general way to refer to killing on a large-scale, as in This war will result in the massacre of millions. Massacre can also be used as a verb in both of these senses, as in The flock was massacred by the pack of wolves. Massacre is also used figuratively as a noun and a verb in the context of a decisive defeat, especially a one-sided sporting event, as in It was a massacre—we lost 12-0. Example: Every day, the news tells us of yet another massacre of innocent people by a person with a gun.