massacre

[ mas-uh-ker ]

noun

1. the unnecessary, indiscriminate killing of a large number of human beings or animals, as in barbarous warfare or persecution or for revenge or plunder.

   Synonyms: extermination, genocide, butchery, carnage

2. a general slaughter, as of persons or animals:

   the massacre of millions during the war.

   Synonyms: extermination, genocide, butchery, carnage

3. Informal. a crushing defeat, especially in sports.

verb (used with object)

, mas·sa·cred, mas·sa·cring.

1. to kill unnecessarily and indiscriminately, especially a large number of persons.

   Synonyms: slay

2. Informal. to defeat decisively, especially in sports.

massacre

/ ˈmæsəkrə; ˈmæsəkə /

noun

1. the wanton or savage killing of large numbers of people, as in battle
2. informal.
   an overwhelming defeat, as in a game

verb

1. to kill indiscriminately or in large numbers
2. informal.
   to defeat overwhelmingly

Derived Forms

• massacrer, noun

Other Words From

• massa·crer [mas, -, uh, -krer], noun
• un·massa·cred adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of massacre¹

First recorded in 1575–85; (noun), from Middle French massacre, noun derivative of massacrer, Old French maçacrer, macecler, probably from unattested Vulgar Latin matteūcculāre, verbal derivative of unattested matteūca “mallet” ( mashie, mace ¹ ); (verb) from Middle French massacrer

Word History and Origins

Origin of massacre¹

C16: from Old French, of unknown origin

Synonym Study

See slaughter.

Example Sentences

God was in the room when you made a massacre out of someone’s child.

From Time

He also worked on an unsuccessful 2003 lawsuit stemming from the massacre.

From Ozy

Once he first learned about the massacre, Solomon-Simmons wanted to spread the word as widely as possible.

From Ozy

Like many other race riots and massacres in the South and in Florida, once the events left the front page of the newspapers, they were buried.

From Ozy

At Republicans’ convention in Cleveland in 2016, one month after the massacre at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, this president showed he could say “LGBT.”

From Washington Blade

The massacre of cartoonists at the French magazine Charlie Hebdo is a crystallizing moment.

From The Daily Beast

Several Muslim sites in France, including mosques have been attacked or vandalized since the Charlie Hebdo massacre.

From The Daily Beast

What often is forgotten—and what Beck could probably stand to remember—is that the massacre was, technically, a firefight.

From The Daily Beast

Nearly two full months have passed since the student massacre that took place in the city of Iguala, Guerrero.

From The Daily Beast

Will “loyalty cards” be enough to stave of a Republican massacre of House Democrats on Tuesday?

From The Daily Beast

Those who escaped the massacre were hung upon the same trees on which the Frenchmen had previously been hung.

From Project Gutenberg

There was the usual massacre, but this time the trees were cut down and the wells choked up.

From Project Gutenberg

The sight of the awful carnage affected even the warworn Marshal, and made him exclaim, "What a massacre!"

From Project Gutenberg

Native rumors had brought the news of the massacre at Cawnpore, though the ghastly tragedy of the Well was yet to come.

From Project Gutenberg

It was during his reign that the fatal massacre of St. Bartholomews took place, which renders his name odious.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• annihilate
• butcher
• decimate
• exterminate
• murder
• slaughter
• slay

About This Word

What does massacre mean?

A massacre is a large-scale killing of people or animals, especially defenseless ones.

The word implies that such a killing was especially unnecessary, brutal, and indiscriminate. An event in which soldiers kill many civilians could be called a massacre. Mass shootings are massacres.

Massacre can also be used in a more general way to refer to killing on a large-scale, as in This war will result in the massacre of millions. 

Massacre can also be used as a verb in both of these senses, as in The flock was massacred by the pack of wolves. 

Massacre is also used figuratively as a noun and a verb in the context of a decisive defeat, especially a one-sided sporting event, as in It was a massacre—we lost 12-0. 

Example: Every day, the news tells us of yet another massacre of innocent people by a person with a gun.

Where does massacre come from?

The first records of the word massacre come from around 1580. It comes from the Middle French verb massacrer. It may ultimately derive from the Vulgar Latin matteūca, meaning “mallet,” but its origin is uncertain.

When referring to a violent event, the word massacre is most often used in reference to war. In particular, it is used to refer to events in which soldiers are killing not just other soldiers but also civilians. In the United States, the word massacre has been used in reference to historic events that include violent killings of defenseless victims. For example, during the Boston Massacre of 1770, British soldiers fired on a crowd of colonists, killing five. Other events labeled massacres often involve the killing of many more people—thousands or even millions.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to massacre?

• massacrer (noun)
• unmassacred (adjective)

What are some synonyms for massacre?

• slaughter
• annihilate
• decimate
• exterminate

What are some words that often get used in discussing massacre?

 

• killing
• violence
• carnage
• murder
• genocide
• war
• defeat

How is massacre used in real life?

Massacre is often used in the context of violent events, but it’s commonly used in a figurative way, especially in the context of sports.

“This was a massacre. Nine people died on that day. Six of them were children.”

A Sky News investigation has discovered evidence of a recent potential war crime in northern Yemen by the Saudi-led coalition, which is backed by the US and Britain

— Sky News (@SkyNews) September 27, 2020

Wounded Knee was a massacre of hundreds of defenseless Native men, women, and children at the hands of U.S. soldiers. We must take steps to address this horrific injustice. Today, I am proud to join my colleagues on a bill to revoke Medals of Honor awarded for Wounded Knee.

— Kamala Harris (@SenKamalaHarris) November 28, 2019

The Patriots massacre of the Colts on Sunday is going to be such a bloodbath that the NFL might have to move the game to HBO. Not for cable.

— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) October 12, 2015