butchery

noun

butch·​ery ˈbu̇-chə-rē How to pronounce butchery (audio)
ˈbu̇ch-
plural butcheries
Synonyms of butcherynext
1
chiefly British : slaughterhouse
2
: the preparation of meat for sale
3
: cruel and ruthless slaughter of human beings
4
: botch

Synonyms of butchery

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Examples of butchery in a Sentence

the butchery of civilians during the war butchery on a scale that horrified the civilized world
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Rescuers were hoping to reach into any spaces left in the basement and the ground level, which had been rented out for an electronics shop, a butchery and a grocery while construction continued on the upper floors. — Evelyne Musambi, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 Running parallel to this butchery investigation is the arrival of perpetually hungover FBI agent Gwen Birgssen, played by British actress Lily James with an incomprehensible southern drawl and some clunky platitudes that veer into genre parody. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026 Yet despite the technical wizardry—dry-aging, fermentation, curing, meticulous butchery—the dishes never feel overly cerebral. — Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2026 Hidden behind the tourist options across from the Astronomical Clock is Restaurant 420, a bright welcoming space that is packed with locals, with products are made in the basement bakery and butchery. — Jaymi McCann, TheWeek, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for butchery

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Browse Nearby Words

butcher paper
butchery
bute
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Cite this Entry

“Butchery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/butchery. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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Kids Definition

butchery

noun
butch·​ery ˈbu̇ch-(ə-)rē How to pronounce butchery (audio)
plural butcheries
: brutal murder : great slaughter

More from Merriam-Webster on butchery

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about butchery

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