Word

massacre

noun C1

/ˈmæs.ə.kə(ɹ)/

Meanings

noun

the brutal killing of many people, especially civilians, in one event

verb

to kill many people brutally, often in a sudden attack

noun

a very heavy defeat in a sport or competition (informal)

Definition

A massacre is the brutal killing of many people, especially civilians, in a single event.

A massacre is an event in which a large number of people are killed violently, often suddenly and without mercy. The word is frequently used for killings of civilians or other defenseless groups. It can also be used more loosely for a very severe defeat in sport or competition.

Examples

The documentary reconstructs the massacre through survivor interviews and archived footage.
I still find it difficult to grasp how quickly the massacre unfolded in that small town.
They condemned the massacre and called for an independent investigation into what happened.
She wrote a novel that explores how families live with the memory of a massacre across generations.
The coach warned that careless defending could turn the match into a massacre.

Common mistake

Learners often overuse massacre for any killing; use it only when many people are killed in a single, especially brutal event (or informally for an extreme defeat).