# abattoir

/ˌæbətˈwɑɹ/ (US) · /ˈæbɐtwˌɑː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abattoir
Updated: 2026-05-01

## Senses

### 1. slaughterhouse

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · British English

a building where animals are killed for their meat.

For teachers: a facility where livestock are slaughtered for consumption as food.

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

Teaching tip: While 'slaughterhouse' is the everyday term, 'abattoir' is preferred in technical, legal, or formal British contexts.

### 2. place of carnage

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

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

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

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

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.