slaying

noun

slay·​ing ˈslā-iŋ How to pronounce slaying (audio)
plural slayings
: the act of killing a person : killing, murder
used chiefly in journalistic writing
a gangland slaying
Sunday's slayings bring to 14 the number of killings this year in what police call gang-related attacks.Peter Stein
He is accused of ordering the 1989 slayings and robberies of three drug dealers …Joseph P. Fried

Examples of slaying in a Sentence

a man wanted for the slaying of seven people during an armed robbery
Recent Examples on the Web But the defense has denied the prosecutions’ contention that Woodward carried out the slaying because Bernstein was gay. Sean Emery, Orange County Register, 20 June 2024 For decades, the brutal slaying of a bodybuilder in his Broward townhouse left investigators with more questions than answers. Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 18 June 2024 The accidental slaying of Lucerys triggers more deadly mistakes and misunderstandings. Judy Berman, TIME, 16 June 2024 The man’s daughter, who had been arguing with her father prior to the slaying, was later taken into custody in New Jersey, a police source said. Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 5 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for slaying 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'slaying.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of slaying was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near slaying

Cite this Entry

“Slaying.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slaying. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on slaying

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!