Synonyms

electrocution

American

[ih-lek-truh-kyoo-shuhn] / ɪˌlɛk trəˈkyu ʃən /

noun

death or injury from electricity passing through the body.

The electrical cord used to light the showers was exposed to standing water, posing risk of electrocution.
One current source of danger for golden eagles is electrocution on power poles that are not constructed to bird-friendly standards.

Etymology

Origin of electrocution

An Americanism first recorded in 1885–90; electro- ( def. ) + (exe)cution ( def. )

Vocabulary lists containing electrocution

Frankenwords: Words with Roots from Different Languages

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

At four years old, she was killed by electrocution, an all too common cause of death for large birds of prey.

From Science Daily • Dec. 11, 2025

Cases include electrocution, drowning, overdose, scurvy, sickle cell anemia, a nail in the chest, a fastball in the eye and gallstones, with all the personal drama one expects from a hospital show.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 4, 2025

A lot of work has also been done to adapt thousands of kilometres of power cables to reduce the risk of electrocution.

From BBC • Nov. 9, 2025

Besides habitat fragmentation caused by roads, farms and other construction, electrocution by power lines is another major threat to sloths.

From Salon • Mar. 2, 2024

The first execution by electrocution had actually taken place eleven months earlier, at Auburn.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023