guillotine

American  

[gil-uh-teen, gee-uh-, gil-uh-teen, gee-uh-] / ˈgɪl əˌtin, ˈgi ə-, ˌgɪl əˈtin, ˌgi ə- /

noun

1. a device for beheading a person by means of a heavy blade that is dropped between two posts serving as guides: widely used during the French Revolution.

2. an instrument for surgically removing the tonsils.

3. any of various machines in which a vertical blade between two parallel uprights descends to cut or trim metal, stacks of paper, etc.

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verb (used with object)

guillotined, guillotining

1. to behead by the guillotine.

2. to cut with or as if with a guillotine.

guillotine British  

noun

1. 1. a device for beheading persons, consisting of a weighted blade set between two upright posts

   2. execution by this instrument

2. a device for cutting or trimming sheet material, such as paper or sheet metal, consisting of a blade inclined at a small angle that descends onto the sheet

3. a surgical instrument for removing tonsils, growths in the throat, etc

4. Also called: closure by compartment.  (in Parliament, etc) a form of closure under which a bill is divided into compartments, groups of which must be completely dealt with each day

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verb

1. to behead (a person) by guillotine

2. (in Parliament, etc) to limit debate on (a bill, motion, etc) by the guillotine

guillotine Cultural  

1. A machine designed for beheading people quickly and with minimal pain. The guillotine, which used a large falling knife blade, was devised by a physician, Joseph Guillotin, during the French Revolution and was used as the official method of execution in France until the twentieth century.

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Other Word Forms

• guillotiner noun
• unguillotined adjective

Etymology

Origin of guillotine

1785–95; named after J. I. Guillotin (1738–1814), French physician who urged its use

Example Sentences

“Consolidation now hangs over the film industry like a guillotine, with job losses likely and the future of the theatrical movie-going experience in question,” Lauzen wrote in her report.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 1, 2026

Though imprisoned after the fall of Robespierre in 1794, David escaped the guillotine and soon returned to his portrait practice and lucrative teaching studio.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 29, 2025

If, in 1793, you were going to visit the full-scale model of the guillotine exhibited at S. W. Fores’ Piccadilly print shop, you could hardly miss these merciless cartoons.

From Slate • Jul. 21, 2025

The American, 32, out-grappled Edwards throughout before ending the contest with a guillotine choke.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2025

His words, delivered so swiftly and with such disregard for our feelings, cut through me like the blade of a guillotine.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall