Definition

The act of killing someone without planning or intending to cause harm, often considered less serious than murder.

Example

He was charged with manslaughter after the accident that led to the death of another person.

Conversation

Did you hear about that case where someone was charged with manslaughter?

Yeah, it's really tragic how it all happened.

I can't believe it was just an accident leading to manslaughter.

I know, it shows how quickly things can go wrong.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Manslaughter is formed from "man" (from Old English "mann", meaning human being) and "slaughter" (from Old English "sleaht", meaning killing or slaughter). The term refers to the act of killing a human being, typically without premeditation or malice aforethought.

Memory Tip

Think of 'man' as referring to a human being and 'slaughter' as meaning to kill. This helps you remember that manslaughter is the act of killing a person.

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