guillotine
noun
guil·lo·tine
ˈgi-lə-ˌtēn 
ˌgē-(y)ə-ˈtēn
ˈgē-(y)ə-ˌtēn
ˌgē-(y)ə-ˈtēn
ˈgē-(y)ə-ˌtēn
1
: a machine for beheading by means of a heavy blade that slides down in vertical guides
2
: a shearing machine or instrument (such as a paper cutter) that in action resembles a guillotine
The paper was trimmed on a guillotine.
3
chiefly British
: closure by the imposition of a predetermined time limit on the consideration of specific sections of a bill or portions of other legislative business
guillotine
transitive verb
Examples of guillotine in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Moraes landed a kick to Nkuta’s body in the final moments of a close bout, and as Nkuta fell, Moraes applied a guillotine choke.
—
Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
Carano briefly attempted a guillotine on the way down, gave it up under pressure, and Rousey rolled into the armbar setup that defined her entire UFC and Strikeforce career.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
For the past 10 months, since a frustrated Colbert announced the cancellation of the three-decade-old talk show in July 2025, the countdown to his farewell has been looming over Colbert and the whole of the late-night genre like a guillotine with a threadbare rope.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 13 May 2026
The lightweight bout ended in the first round as Miller put Gordon in a guillotine choke.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for guillotine
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Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
Carano briefly attempted a guillotine on the way down, gave it up under pressure, and Rousey rolled into the armbar setup that defined her entire UFC and Strikeforce career.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
For the past 10 months, since a frustrated Colbert announced the cancellation of the three-decade-old talk show in July 2025, the countdown to his farewell has been looming over Colbert and the whole of the late-night genre like a guillotine with a threadbare rope.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 13 May 2026
The lightweight bout ended in the first round as Miller put Gordon in a guillotine choke.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for guillotine
Cite this Entry
“Guillotine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/guillotine. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
guillotine
noun
guil·lo·tine
ˈgil-ə-ˌtēn
ˌgē-(y)ə-ˈtēn
ˌgē-(y)ə-ˈtēn
ˈgē-(y)əˌ-tēn
: a machine for cutting off a person's head by means of a heavy blade sliding in two upright grooved posts
guillotine
verb
Etymology
named for Joseph Guillotin 1738–1814 French doctor and public official
Medical Definition
guillotine
noun
guil·lo·tine
ˈgil-ə-ˌtēn
ˈgē-ə-ˌtēn
ˈgē-ə-ˌtēn
: a surgical instrument that consists of a ring and handle with a knife blade which slides down the handle and across the ring and that is used for cutting out a protruding structure (as a tonsil) capable of being placed in the ring
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