manslaughter
Americannoun
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Law. the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought.
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the killing of a human being by another; homicide.
noun
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law the unlawful killing of one human being by another without malice aforethought Compare murder See also homicide malice aforethought
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(loosely) the killing of a human being
Usage
Whats the difference between manslaughter and murder? Manslaughter is the legal term for the act of killing someone without intending to, often in an accidental way. Murder is the legal term for the intentional killing of someone or the killing of someone as the result of a complete disregard for their life. There are many specific conditions and interpretations surrounding what constitutes murder and manslaughter, and laws vary by location. The word murder is also commonly used in more general ways. In legal contexts, though, it’s typically used in a way that implies that the killing was intentional or the result of a complete disregard for the victim’s life, and this is the crucial difference between the words. In the U. S., manslaughter can be classified as voluntary or involuntary. Voluntary manslaughter often involves a person who kills someone through voluntary actions but without intending to harm them. For example, this could apply to a person who unintentionally kills someone during a fight after having been provoked to fight (especially when their actions are considered to go beyond those deemed appropriate for self-defense). Acts labeled as involuntary manslaughter are often reckless but accidental. For example, the term may be applied to a case in which a driver kills someone as a result of their reckless driving (this is sometimes specifically called vehicular manslaughter). On the other hand, a person who intentionally runs someone over with their car would likely be charged with murder (unless it involved self-defense). Many jurisdictions classify murders with different degrees. For example, if a person intentionally runs someone over with their car after having planned to do it (that is, after having premeditated it), the act would be called first-degree murder. However, if the killing was intentional but not premeditated, it would be called second-degree murder. Of course, the official charge is typically based on what can be proven during a trial. Here’s an example of manslaughter and murder used correctly in the same sentence. Example: The accused was originally charged with manslaughter because it appeared to be a reckless driving accident, but the charge was changed to first-degree murder when the police discovered journals in which the driver had written plans to kill the victim and make it look like an accident. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between manslaughter and murder.
Etymology
Origin of manslaughter
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; see origin at man, slaughter
Explanation
Manslaughter means killing someone without planning it beforehand. A defendant who's convicted of manslaughter is guilty of a serious crime, though less serious than murder. Someone who kills another person accidentally or impulsively might be accused of manslaughter, a legal term that describes a killing which is not quite deliberate murder. Manslaughter is extremely serious, although it's usually punished less harshly than murder. Though the word laughter can be seen in manslaughter, it's no laughing matter — and it rhymes with daughter.
Vocabulary lists containing manslaughter
The Outsiders
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A Lesson Before Dying
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"The Story of the Triangle Factory Fire" by Zachary Kent
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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.
That includes an Orange County mother, who faces an involuntary manslaughter charge after her son allegedly struck an 81-year-old man with an electric motorcycle.
From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2026
Loay Abdelfattah Alnaji, 50, faces felony charges of involuntary manslaughter and battery in the death of Paul Kessler, Ventura County D.A. announces.
From Los Angeles Times • May 7, 2026
It is part of the force's ongoing Operation Duet - two separate investigations into corporate manslaughter and gross negligence manslaughter at the hospital.
From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026
It was widened in March 2025 to include gross negligence manslaughter.
From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026
“In the opinion of this court, there is not enough evidence to charge Officer Moore with excessive force, manslaughter, or murder.”
From "Ghost Boys" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
