What does "massacre" mean?

1. (killing of many people) the cruel killing of a large number of people, especially those who cannot defend themselves. 2. (a heavy defeat) a situation where one team or person is beaten very badly in a game or competition. 3. (to kill many people) to kill a lot of people in a violent and cruel way. 4. (to perform very poorly) to perform a piece of music or a play so badly that you ruin it.

How do you use "massacre"?

Often used with the definite article when referring to a specific historical event. This is a transitive verb and requires a direct object.

massacre

n. · v.

US //ˈmæsəkɝ// UK //mˈæsəkɐ// mas·sacre

1 killing of many people (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the cruel killing of a large number of people, especially those who cannot defend themselves.

the indiscriminate and brutal slaughter of many people, typically involving victims who are unarmed or unable to resist.

Example

The history book described a terrible massacre that took place during the war.

Example

International observers called for an immediate investigation into the massacre of civilians in the occupied territory.

Usage

Often used with the definite article when referring to a specific historical event.
2 a heavy defeat (n.)
C1 Advanced Informal Sport

a situation where one team or person is beaten very badly in a game or competition.

an overwhelming or humiliating defeat in a sporting contest or competitive event.

Example

The final score was 8-0, and the local newspapers called the game a massacre.

Example

What was expected to be a close championship final turned into a complete massacre as the defending champions dominated every aspect of play.
- rout
- drubbing
- crushing
- triumph
- victory

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3 to kill many people (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

to kill a lot of people in a violent and cruel way.

to kill a large number of people indiscriminately and with great brutality.

Example

The soldiers were accused of massacring innocent villagers during the conflict.

Example

The documentary explores the tragic events of the night when retreating forces massacred hundreds of protesters in the square.

Usage

This is a transitive verb and requires a direct object.
- slaughter
- butcher
4 to perform very poorly (v.)
C1 Advanced Informal Humorous

to perform a piece of music or a play so badly that you ruin it.

to perform a creative work, such as a musical composition or dramatic script, with such incompetence that its quality is destroyed.

Example

I tried to sing my favorite song at karaoke, but I completely massacred it.

Example

The critics were merciless, claiming the amateur troupe had massacred the Shakespearean classic with their wooden acting and poor timing.
- ruin
- botch
- mangle

Origin

1580, from Middle French massacre, from Old French macacre, marcacre, macecre, macecle (“slaughterhouse, butchery”), usually thought to be deverbal from Old French macecrer, macecler (“to slaughter”), though the noun seems to be attested somewhat earlier. It is also found in Medieval Latin mazacrium (“massacre, slaughter, killing”, also “the head of a newly killed stag”). Further origin disputed: * From Latin macellum (“butcher shop”). From Vulgar Latin matteuculāre, from *matteuca (cf. massue), from Late Latin mattea, mattia, from Latin mateola. From Middle Low German matskelen (“to massacre”) (compare German metzeln (“massacre”)), frequentative of matsken, matzgen (“to cut, hew”), from Proto-West Germanic maitan, from Proto-Germanic maitaną (“to cut”), from Proto-Indo-European *mei- (“small”). Akin to Old High German meizan (“to cut”) among others. * Note also Arabic مَجْزَرَة (majzara), originally “spot where animals are slaughtered”, now also “massacre”, and in Maghrebi Arabic “slaughterhouse”. Derived from جَزَرَ (jazara, “to cut, slaughter”).