slayer

American  

[sley-er] / ˈsleɪ ər /

noun

1. a person who kills another person or creature, usually violently, or who destroys something.

   In the movie, the prince is a dragon slayer on a mission to kill the dragon responsible for corrupting the heart of the king.

   In Hindu legend, the goddess Kalaratri is worshiped as the slayer of darkness and ignorance.

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Etymology

Origin of slayer

slay ( def. ) + -er ¹

Example Sentences

Despite the enthusiasm around the project, which would have introduced Ryan Kiera Armstrong as the new slayer alongside Gellar’s Buffy, Gellar pointed to at least one very vocal detractor.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

Actor Ryan Kiera Armstrong, who was set to lead the show as a supernatural slayer opposite Gellar, lamented the cancellation on Instagram.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

Dr. Ilko argues that Guglielmo's reputation as a dragon slayer came from his role in cleansing the environment and restoring the valley's productivity.

From Science Daily • Feb. 2, 2026

Slayer rules come into play whenever someone who would otherwise inherit assets from an estate is convicted of or found liable for murder, and the slayer is entitled to inherit from the victim.

From Salon • Dec. 25, 2025

Angering a twenty-foot-tall drakon slayer probably wasn’t a wise strategy, but Percy was dying.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan