Massacre Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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massacre

[ˈmasəkə ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

violent event

A massacre is a brutal and indiscriminate killing of a large number of people, especially in a particular place or at a particular time. It is often carried out in a deliberate and systematic manner, resulting in a high death toll.

Synonyms

carnage, slaughter, slaughterhouse.

Examples of usage

  • The massacre at the school shocked the entire nation.
  • The village was left in mourning after the brutal massacre of innocent civilians.
Context #2 | Verb

violent action

To massacre means to kill a large number of people in a brutal and indiscriminate way. It implies the use of extreme violence and often involves a deliberate and systematic approach to killing.

Synonyms

butcher, exterminate, slaughter.

Examples of usage

  • The invading army proceeded to massacre the villagers.
  • The rebel forces mercilessly massacred the prisoners of war.

Translations

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Origin of 'massacre'

The word 'massacre' originated from the Middle French word 'macacre', which was derived from the Old Italian word 'mazzacrare', meaning 'to slaughter' or 'to butcher'. The term has been used throughout history to describe tragic and violent events involving the killing of a large number of people.


See also: amass, mass, massage, masses, masseur, masseuse, massive.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #10,633, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.