Finesentence mobile logo
Sign in Login / Register

Massacring Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

💔
Add to dictionary

massacring

[ˈmæsəkrɪŋ ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

violent act

Massacring refers to the act of killing a large number of people indiscriminately and brutally. It often implies a violent and ruthless nature in which the victims are typically defenceless and the act is carried out with great ferocity.

Synonyms

annihilation, butchering, extermination, slaughtering.

Examples of usage

  • The war resulted in the massacring of innocent civilians.
  • Historical accounts detail the massacring of the village during the invasion.
  • The film depicted the gruesome massacring of the population during the regime's rule.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'massacring'

The term 'massacre' originates from the Middle French 'massacre', which means 'to kill in a brutal or indiscriminate manner'. It is derived from the Old French 'massacrer', which is thought to be closely related to the Latin 'mactare', meaning 'to slay, to kill, to sacrifice'. The transformation of meaning occurred as the word began to be associated more with large-scale killings, particularly of people or animals, without regard to the rules of warfare or justice. Over the centuries, the word has also been used in various contexts, including historical events, literature, and discussions of violence, solidifying its grim connotation in the English language.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,003, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.