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
Griffith was later arrested and charged with three counts of manslaughter and one count of leaving the scene of personal injury and death, after authorities determined the vehicle was registered to him, according to a news release.
—
Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2025
The unlicensed driver police say fatally struck a mother and her two children in Brooklyn has been charged with manslaughter — just months after the wig-making social media influencer won a $2 million lawsuit against the NYPD, law enforcement sources say.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2025
After spending much of his adult life in prison, Goodson was paroled in March 2022 for a 2013 manslaughter conviction, state correction records show.
—Ellen Moynihan, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2025
David Velazquez, 24, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and a gun enhancement.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for manslaughter
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Natalie Demaree, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2025
The unlicensed driver police say fatally struck a mother and her two children in Brooklyn has been charged with manslaughter — just months after the wig-making social media influencer won a $2 million lawsuit against the NYPD, law enforcement sources say.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2025
After spending much of his adult life in prison, Goodson was paroled in March 2022 for a 2013 manslaughter conviction, state correction records show.
—Ellen Moynihan, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2025
David Velazquez, 24, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and a gun enhancement.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for manslaughter
Cite this Entry
“Manslaughter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manslaughter. Accessed 20 Apr. 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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