Lynchings: meaning, definitions and examples

Refers to illegal, often violent acts done by a mob without a legal trial. It usually involves hanging but can include other forms of violence. The term is historically associated with racial violence, especially in the United States.

• The history of the American South is marred by numerous race-based lynchings.
• The town was shaken by a recent lynching of an accused criminal.

Pertains to the killing of a person by self-appointed enforcers of justice. These actions are conducted without legal authority and often involve citizens taking severe actions against perceived wrongdoers.

• Vigilante killings increased as people lost faith in the justice system.
• The movie portrayed a society plagued by vigilante killings.

Denotes the killing of a person by governmental authorities or individuals without the sanction of any judicial proceeding or legal process. It often implies abuse of power and violations of human rights.

• Human rights organizations condemned the extrajudicial executions carried out by the regime.
• The dictator used extrajudicial executions to silence his opponents.

Describes a scenario in which a group of people take the law into their own hands, often resulting in violence. It suggests chaos and lack of formal legal procedures.

• Mob justice erupted in the village after the police failed to arrest the suspect.
• The community vented their frustration through acts of mob justice.

The term 'lynchings' refers to illegal mob action where people take the law into their own hands, typically to punish someone presumed guilty of a crime. It is associated with extreme violence and historical racial injustice, particularly in the context of the United States.

• The history of lynchings in the southern United States is a dark chapter of violence against African Americans.
• He was accused of a crime, but instead of a fair trial, the mob resorted to lynchings.

'Public humiliation' involves shaming someone in a public setting, either in person or online. This term applies to instances where the intention is to embarrass or disgrace someone in front of others.

• The CEO's controversial comments led to his public humiliation as people expressed their outrage on social media.
• She experienced public humiliation when her private emails were leaked online.

'Cyberbullying' refers to the use of digital platforms, such as social media, to harass, threaten, or embarrass someone. It can happen anytime and anywhere and often has severe emotional and psychological impacts on the victim.

• The teenager suffered from cyberbullying on social media, which severely affected her mental health.
• Schools are implementing programs to address the rise of cyberbullying among students.

'Collective punishment' involves punishing a group of people for the actions of a few individuals. It is often employed in military contexts or by authoritarian regimes and is widely considered unjust and unethical.

• The teacher's decision to give detention to the entire class for the actions of a few students felt like collective punishment.
• During the conflict, the village faced collective punishment due to the actions of a few insurgents.