electric chair

American  

noun

1. a chair used to electrocute criminals sentenced to death.

2. the penalty of legal electrocution.

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electric chair British  

noun

1. 1. an electrified chair for executing criminals

   2. execution by this method

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Etymology

Origin of electric chair

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75

Example Sentences

“As soon as Dara and I walked into his house, the electric chair from ‘Female Trouble’ was right in front of us.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 27, 2023

Those tapes were recorded once each in 1987, 1989, and twice in 1990, when Virginia still used the electric chair.

From Slate • May 15, 2023

But by the late 1970s and early 1980s, problems with executions using the electric chair made headlines everywhere.

From Salon • Dec. 15, 2022

In 1983, Ms. Piel persuaded a judge to issue a stay of their execution 16 hours before the defendants were set to die in the electric chair.

From Washington Post • Nov. 30, 2022

I plow through the crowds in my electric chair like a power mower in thick grass.

From "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper