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Lynched: meaning, definitions and examples

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lynched

 

[ lɪnʧt ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

historical execution

To lynch someone means to execute them, typically by hanging, without a legal trial or due process. This form of mob justice has been historically associated with racial violence, particularly against African Americans in the United States during the 19th and 20th centuries.

Synonyms

executed, hanged, murdered

Examples of usage

  • The community was haunted by the memory of those who had been lynched.
  • Lynching was a tragic part of American history.
  • They feared being lynched for standing up against injustice.

Translations

Translations of the word "lynched" in other languages:

🇵🇹 linchado

🇮🇳 लिंच किया गया

🇩🇪 gehängt

🇮🇩 digantung

🇺🇦 повішений

🇵🇱 powieszony

🇯🇵 リンチされた

🇫🇷 lynché

🇪🇸 linchado

🇹🇷 linç edildi

🇰🇷 린치당한

🇸🇦 معلق

🇨🇿 oběšený

🇸🇰 obesený

🇨🇳 被私刑

🇸🇮 lynčani

🇮🇸 lynchaður

🇰🇿 линч жасалды

🇬🇪 ლინჩი

🇦🇿 lynç edilmiş

🇲🇽 linchado

Word origin

The term 'lynch' is believed to have originated during the American Revolutionary War, though its exact origins are debated. It is commonly attributed to Charles Lynch, a Virginia planter and militia officer, who took the law into his own hands to punish loyalists during the war. The practice became more widespread in the U.S. in the 19th century, becoming particularly associated with the extrajudicial killings of African Americans in the South after the Civil War. Lynching was often carried out by mobs, reflecting the tension and racial violence of the era. This brutal practice continued into the 20th century and is now recognized as a grave violation of human rights, with significant efforts made to commemorate the victims and confront this dark aspect of American history.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #29,287, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.