mayhem

American  

[mey-hem, mey-uhm] / ˈmeɪ hɛm, ˈmeɪ əm /

noun

1. Law. the crime of willfully inflicting a bodily injury on another so as to make the victim less capable of self-defense or, under modern statutes, so as to cripple or mutilate the victim.

2. random or deliberate violence or damage.

3. a state of rowdy disorder.

   Antagonisms between the various factions at the meeting finally boiled over, and mayhem ensued.

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mayhem British  

/ ˈmeɪhɛm /

noun

1. law the wilful and unlawful infliction of injury upon a person, esp (formerly) the injuring or removing of a limb rendering him less capable of defending himself against attack

2. any violent destruction or confusion

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Etymology

Origin of mayhem

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English maheym, maim, from Anglo-French mahe(i)m, mahaim, from Germanic; akin to Middle High German meidem “gelding,” Old Norse meitha “to injure”; maim

Example Sentences

“It has been mayhem,” said Dr. Alexis Parcells, a plastic surgeon in New York and New Jersey who estimated her practice saw triple its average volume of procedures during November and December.

From The Wall Street Journal

The mayhem started an hour before sunset on Tuesday as residents of the farming community were heading home from their fields, where they grow yams, maize and millet.

From BBC

For now, fans will just have to remain hopeful that Guarino Sabaté’s dream of bringing joyous Minion mayhem to the Olympic ice will come true in the end.

From Los Angeles Times

“Coast guard reports. You have to register, on arrival. I tried to avoid it, but it was impossible without causing more havoc and mayhem than I felt in the mood for.”

From Literature

Yes, another savage debutante season is upon us as matchmaking mayhem descends on Bridgerton once more.

From BBC

Related Words

• anarchy
• commotion
• destruction
• fracas
• havoc
• pandemonium
• violence