# butchering

/ˈbʊtʃɝɪŋ/ (US) · /bˈʊtʃəɹɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/butchering
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

killing animals to get meat, or ruining something by doing it very badly.

For teachers: slaughter of animals for meat, extended to clumsy or brutal mishandling that ruins a task or performance.

## Examples

- The butchering of the meat happens early each morning.
- The local shop is famous for the careful butchering of beef and lamb.
- Critics described the revival's butchering of the classic play as a loss for the whole season.

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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.