slayer

American

[sley-er] / ˈsleɪ ər /

noun

a person who kills another person or creature, usually violently, or who destroys something.

In the movie, the prince is a dragon slayer on a mission to kill the dragon responsible for corrupting the heart of the king.
In Hindu legend, the goddess Kalaratri is worshiped as the slayer of darkness and ignorance.

Etymology

Origin of slayer

slay ( def. ) + -er ¹

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.

Actor Ryan Kiera Armstrong, who was set to lead the show as a supernatural slayer opposite Gellar, lamented the cancellation on Instagram.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

Dr. Ilko argues that Guglielmo's reputation as a dragon slayer came from his role in cleansing the environment and restoring the valley's productivity.

From Science Daily • Feb. 2, 2026

These rules, known as slayer rules, have a long history in the United States.

From Salon • Dec. 25, 2025

Slayer rules come into play whenever someone who would otherwise inherit assets from an estate is convicted of or found liable for murder, and the slayer is entitled to inherit from the victim.

From Salon • Dec. 25, 2025

"And the youngest to betray all it stood for, King- slayer."

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

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