Word
manslaughter
Phoneticsman·slaugh·ter, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈmænˌsɫɔtɝ/
UK/mˈænslɔːtɐ/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. the crime of killing someone without intending to do so, often through a dangerous or careless action.
n. the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought, typically categorized as voluntary or involuntary depending on the circumstances.
Examples
“The driver was charged with manslaughter after the tragic accident.”
“The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter, concluding that the defendant acted with extreme negligence but without intent.”
“Legal scholars often distinguish between voluntary manslaughter, involving a sudden heat of passion, and involuntary manslaughter, which typically arises from reckless or criminally negligent conduct.”
Examples
simple
“The driver was charged with manslaughter after the tragic accident.”
contextual
“The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter, concluding that the defendant acted with extreme negligence but without intent.”
complex
“Legal scholars often distinguish between voluntary manslaughter, involving a sudden heat of passion, and involuntary manslaughter, which typically arises from reckless or criminally negligent conduct.”
Usage
Often used in the phrase 'involuntary manslaughter' or 'voluntary manslaughter'.
Teaching tip
Learners should distinguish this from 'murder', which requires intent. In legal contexts, it is usually uncountable but can be countable when referring to specific charges.
Real-World Examples
“Gartshore was convicted of culpable homicide - the closest equivalent to manslaughter in Scots Law - following a trial at the High Court in Aberdeen in July.” “The pair were jailed for 13 years in 2020 for manslaughter.” Etymology
From Middle English manslaȝter, manslauter, equivalent to man + slaughter, or taken as an adaptation of Old English mansliht (“murder; killing of a person”), from mann (“person”) + sliht (“killing”), see manslaught. Cognate with Scots manslauchter (“homicide”). Compare also Old Frisian monslaga (“murder”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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