Word
mayhem
Phoneticsmay·hem, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈmeɪˌhɛm/
UK/mˈeɪhɛm/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. a situation where there is no order and everything is out of control. It often involves a lot of noise, excitement, or damage.
n. a state of violent disorder, confusion, or havoc. While historically referring to the criminal act of disabling a person's body, modern usage describes chaotic environments or situations.
Examples
“The sale caused absolute mayhem in the department store.”
“When the electricity went out during the storm, total mayhem broke out in the crowded subway station.”
“The sudden resignation of the prime minister plunged the capital into political mayhem, as rival factions scrambled to secure power before the morning news cycle.”
Examples
simple
“The sale caused absolute mayhem in the department store.”
contextual
“When the electricity went out during the storm, total mayhem broke out in the crowded subway station.”
complex
“The sudden resignation of the prime minister plunged the capital into political mayhem, as rival factions scrambled to secure power before the morning news cycle.”
Usage
Typically uncountable; often preceded by intensifiers like 'absolute', 'total', or 'pure'.
Real-World Examples
“I didn’t even know what they said, but within five seconds they started punching each other; it was mayhem.” “An hour and three quarters of goopy, bloody mayhem ensue.” Etymology
From Middle English mayme, mahaime, from Anglo-Norman mahaim (“mutilation”), from Old French meshaing (“bodily harm, loss of limb”), from Proto-Germanic maidijaną (“to cripple, injure”) (compare Middle High German meidem, meiden (“gelding”), Old Norse meiða (“to injure”), Gothic 𐌼𐌰𐌹𐌳𐌾𐌰𐌽 (maidjan, “to alter, falsify”)), from Proto-Indo-European mey- (“to change”). More at mad. The original meaning referred to the crime of maiming; the other senses derived from this. Another possible etymology derives the Old French from Provençal maganhar, composed of mal (“evil”) and ganhar (“to obtain, receive”) (compare with Spanish ganar and Italian gavagnare and guadagnare), so literally "to obtain, receive something evil". The sense "chaos" may have arisen by popular misunderstanding of the common journalese expression "rioting and mayhem".
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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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