# slaughterhouse

/ˈsɫɔtɝˌhaʊs/ (US) · /slˈɔːtəhˌaʊs/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/slaughterhouse
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

a building where animals are killed for food. It is a place where meat is prepared for sale to the public.

For teachers: a facility where animals are slaughtered for human consumption. Often used metaphorically to describe a place of intense violence or destruction.

## Examples

- The cows were moved to the slaughterhouse early in the morning.
- The local community protested the construction of a new slaughterhouse near the residential area.
- The documentary provides a harrowing look at the industrial slaughterhouse, revealing the scale of the operations and the conditions within the facility.

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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.