slaughterhouse

noun

slaugh·​ter·​house ˈslȯ-tər-ˌhau̇s How to pronounce slaughterhouse (audio)
: an establishment where animals are butchered

Examples of slaughterhouse in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Imagine slaughterhouse walls of glass, exposing every step of what happens inside as workers force frightened animals forward, restrain them, and kill them as the line keeps moving. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 12 May 2026 Ironically, Vonnegut and 150 of his fellow prisoners were safely locked in a slaughterhouse meat locker while the city burned. — Spin Team, SPIN, 22 June 2026 The plot’s framework mirrors Orwell’s with animals revolting against a farmer’s working conditions (sending them off to a slaughterhouse being the biggie). — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 30 Apr. 2026 Some team members visited pig slaughterhouses, where the GI tract is typically removed from the meat to prevent contamination. — Sara Talpos — Undark, STAT, 1 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for slaughterhouse

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Rhymes for slaughterhouse

See All Rhymes for slaughterhouse

Browse Nearby Words

slaughterer
slaughterhouse
slaughterhouse case
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slaughterhouse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slaughterhouse. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

slaughterhouse

noun
slaugh·​ter·​house ˈslȯt-ər-ˌhau̇s How to pronounce slaughterhouse (audio)
: an establishment where animals are butchered

More from Merriam-Webster on slaughterhouse

Nglish: Translation of slaughterhouse for Spanish Speakers

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