Manslaughter: meaning, definitions and examples
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manslaughter
[ ˈmanˌslôtər ]
criminal law
The crime of killing a human being without malice aforethought, or otherwise in circumstances not amounting to murder.
Synonyms
culpable homicide, unpremeditated killing.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| manslaughter |
Primarily used in legal contexts to describe the unlawful killing of a person without malice aforethought or premeditation. It is less severe than murder.
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| unpremeditated killing |
Used informally to describe a killing that occurs spontaneously without any prior planning or intention. This phrase is often used to discuss the nature of the act.
|
| culpable homicide |
Mostly used in legal contexts, especially in British and Indian law. It denotes an unlawful killing where the accused can be blamed but didn't intend for the death to occur.
|
Examples of usage
- His charge was reduced from murder to manslaughter due to lack of evidence for premeditation.
- She was convicted of manslaughter after hitting a pedestrian while driving under the influence.
general
The act of killing someone without intending to do so.
Synonyms
accidental killing, unintentional homicide.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| manslaughter |
This term is often used in legal contexts to describe the unlawful killing of a person without premeditation. It can be categorized into voluntary and involuntary manslaughter, depending on the specific circumstances.
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| accidental killing |
This phrase is commonly used in everyday language to refer to a killing that happens by accident, without any intent to harm. It can be used in both legal and casual discussions.
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| unintentional homicide |
This is a formal term often used in legal documents and discussions to describe a killing that occurs without the intent to kill. It is similar in meaning to manslaughter but emphasizes the lack of intent.
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Examples of usage
- The court determined that the death was accidental and ruled it as manslaughter.
- He was charged with manslaughter for causing the death of the victim in a car accident.
Translations
Translations of the word "manslaughter" in other languages:
🇵🇹 homicídio culposo
🇮🇳 गैर-इरादतन हत्या
🇩🇪 Totschlag
🇮🇩 pembunuhan tidak disengaja
🇺🇦 ненавмисне вбивство
🇵🇱 nieumyślne spowodowanie śmierci
🇯🇵 過失致死
🇫🇷 homicide involontaire
🇪🇸 homicidio involuntario
🇹🇷 taksirle adam öldürme
🇰🇷 과실치사
🇸🇦 القتل غير العمد
🇨🇿 usmrcení z nedbalosti
🇸🇰 usmrtenie z nedbanlivosti
🇨🇳 过失杀人
🇸🇮 nenamerni uboj
🇮🇸 manndráp af gáleysi
🇰🇿 абайсызда кісі өлтіру
🇬🇪 გაუფრთხილებლობით მკვლელობა
🇦🇿 ehtiyatsızlıqdan adam öldürmə
🇲🇽 homicidio involuntario
Etymology
The term 'manslaughter' originated from the combination of 'man' and 'slaughter', with 'man' referring to a human being and 'slaughter' meaning the killing of animals for food. In legal contexts, manslaughter has been recognized as a distinct crime since ancient times, evolving to differentiate it from murder based on the presence or absence of malice aforethought. The concept of manslaughter has been refined over centuries to address various circumstances of unintentional killing within the framework of criminal law.
See also: slaughter, slaughterhouse.