What does "abattoir" mean?

1. (slaughterhouse) a building where animals are killed for their meat. 2. (place of carnage) a place where many people have been killed in a violent way.

How do you use "abattoir"?

Commonly used in British English and formal contexts; 'slaughterhouse' is the more frequent general term. Used figuratively to emphasize the scale of violence or death.

abattoir

US //ˌæbətˈwɑɹ// UK //ˈæbɐtwˌɑː// abat·toir

1 slaughterhouse (n.)
C2 Proficiency Formal British English

a building where animals are killed for their meat.

a facility where livestock are slaughtered for consumption as food.

Example

The cattle were transported to the local abattoir early in the morning.

Example

Stringent hygiene regulations govern the operation of the modern abattoir to ensure meat safety and animal welfare standards are maintained.

Usage

Commonly used in British English and formal contexts; 'slaughterhouse' is the more frequent general term.

Teacher's tip

While 'slaughterhouse' is the everyday term, 'abattoir' is preferred in technical, legal, or formal British contexts.
- slaughterhouse
- shambles
2 place of carnage (n.)
C2 Proficiency Literary

a place where many people have been killed in a violent way.

a scene or event characterized by extreme violence, carnage, or mass death.

Example

The battlefield had become a bloody abattoir by the end of the day.

Example

Historians described the narrow valley as a literal abattoir, where the trapped infantry had no hope of escape from the heavy artillery.

Usage

Used figuratively to emphasize the scale of violence or death.

Origin

Borrowed from French abattoir, from abattre (“to slaughter”) (cognate to abate) + -oir (“-ory”).