manslaughter
noun
man·slaugh·ter
ˈman-ˌslȯ-tər 
: the unlawful killing of a human being without express or implied malice
Examples of manslaughter in a Sentence
She was convicted of manslaughter for driving while drunk and killing three people.
Recent Examples on the Web
After the incident, Penny was initially charged with manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.
—
Liam Quinn, People.com, 5 Feb. 2025
Listen to this article A man who served six months in jail for sucker-punching a Brooklyn fruit stand manager in June 2017, leaving him in a coma, was charged with manslaughter Wednesday — nearly a year after the victim succumbed to his injuries, police said.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2025
The other driver — Kyle Harrison, who was 23 at the time of the crash — pleaded no contest to charges including vehicular manslaughter.
—Caelyn Pender, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2025
Erik Hernandez pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a class 4 felony, the Weld County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
—Sam Tabachnik, The Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for manslaughter 
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Liam Quinn, People.com, 5 Feb. 2025
Listen to this article A man who served six months in jail for sucker-punching a Brooklyn fruit stand manager in June 2017, leaving him in a coma, was charged with manslaughter Wednesday — nearly a year after the victim succumbed to his injuries, police said.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2025
The other driver — Kyle Harrison, who was 23 at the time of the crash — pleaded no contest to charges including vehicular manslaughter.
—Caelyn Pender, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2025
Erik Hernandez pleaded guilty to manslaughter, a class 4 felony, the Weld County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
—Sam Tabachnik, The Denver Post, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for manslaughter
Dictionary Entries Near manslaughter
Cite this Entry
“Manslaughter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manslaughter. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
manslaughter
noun
man·slaugh·ter
ˈman-ˌslȯt-ər
: the unlawful killing of a person without the intention to do so
Medical Definition
manslaughter
noun
man·slaugh·ter
ˈman-ˌslȯt-ər
: the slaying of a human being
specifically
: the unlawful killing of a human being without express or implied malice
Legal Definition
manslaughter
noun
man·slaugh·ter
ˈman-ˌslȯ-tər
: the unlawful killing of a human being without malice compare homicide, murder
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involuntary manslaughter
: manslaughter resulting from the failure to perform a legal duty expressly required to safeguard human life, from the commission of an unlawful act not amounting to a felony, or from the commission of a lawful act involving a risk of injury or death that is done in an unlawful, reckless, or grossly negligent manner see also reckless homicide at homicide
Note: The exact formulation of the elements of involuntary manslaughter vary from state to state especially with regard to the level of negligence required. In states that grade manslaughter by degrees, involuntary manslaughter is usually graded as a second- or third-degree offense.
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misdemeanor-manslaughter
: involuntary manslaughter occurring during the commission of a misdemeanor compare felony murder at murder
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voluntary manslaughter
: manslaughter resulting from an intentional act done without malice or premeditation and while in the heat of passion or on sudden provocation
Note: In states that grade manslaughter by degrees, voluntary manslaughter is usually a first-degree offense.
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