manslaughter

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "manslaughter" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to refer to the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought, which is less severe than murder. Example: "The defendant was charged with manslaughter after the incident that led to the victim's death."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Attorneys for the officers argued in a second motion that prosecutors violated Maryland law by rushing to charge their clients on 1 May with crimes including murder and manslaughter over the death of Gray, 25, whose neck was broken in custody, prompting protests and unrest.

The Guardian

A second defendant, Zoheb Majid, 20, was jailed for 10 years for her manslaughter.

The Guardian

Eleven serious offences, including manslaughter, kidnap and arson with intent to endanger life, were committed in England and Wales by offenders freed from jail but supposedly subject to the most rigorous level of monitoring by police, probation officers, social services and other agencies.

The Guardian

Having already had their charge reduced from murder to manslaughter by recklessness, Martin found the five guilty of the even lesser crime of manslaughter "by negligence".

The Guardian

They embraced me and offered their forgiveness, and when the Brooklyn DA hit me with a long list of charges, ranging from manslaughter to assault with a deadly weapon – I think it was 17 charges in total – they were the ones who stood up and said they didn't want to destroy two young lives instead of one.

The Guardian

If alcoholism in pregnancy is "attempted manslaughter", as a QC told the court of appeal this week, surely abortion is murder.

The Guardian - Opinion

On appeal, the convictions were reduced to manslaughter and they were released in November 1989, five years after the killing.

The Guardian

The Baltimore police lieutenant charged with the manslaughter of Freddie Gray had an innocent man arrested and prosecuted as part of a years-long personal feud over his love life that city police chiefs were repeatedly warned about.

The Guardian

The Baltimore police lieutenant charged with the manslaughter of Freddie Gray was accused of threatening to kill an ex-girlfriend several years before allegedly abusing his position to harass another former partner and her family.

The Guardian

Gill later pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced at Salisbury crown court to four and a half years in prison – a sentence branded an "absolute joke" by Young's family.

The Guardian

But since being imprisoned for manslaughter two years ago, the former teacher has been trained to educate fellow inmates about how HIV is prevented, transmitted, and treated – in doing so helping to fill the gap between Kenya's severe disease burden and its shortage of skilled health staff.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use “manslaughter” in contexts where the killing was unlawful but lacked the premeditation or malice required for a murder charge.

Common error

Avoid using "manslaughter" interchangeably with "murder". "Manslaughter" denotes a killing without malice aforethought, while "murder" involves intent or premeditation. This distinction is crucial in legal contexts.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "manslaughter" is as a noun. It refers to the act of unlawfully killing someone without malice aforethought. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's correctly used in legal contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

8%

Science

7%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "manslaughter" is a grammatically correct and frequently used noun, primarily in legal and news contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it refers to the unlawful killing of a human being without malice aforethought. It's crucial to distinguish "manslaughter" from murder, as the former lacks the intent or premeditation of the latter. Common related terms include "involuntary homicide" and "criminally negligent homicide". When writing, ensure clarity regarding the specific type of "manslaughter" and avoid using it interchangeably with "murder".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

involuntary homicide

Focuses on the unintentional nature of the killing.

criminally negligent homicide

Highlights the element of criminal negligence leading to death.

unlawful killing

A broader term encompassing various forms of illegal homicide, including manslaughter.

culpable homicide

Implies blameworthy but not necessarily intentional killing.

homicide by negligence

Specifically emphasizes negligence as the cause of death.

accidental killing

Emphasizes the accidental nature of the death, though still unlawful.

wrongful death

Focuses on the civil liability aspect of a death caused by someone's actions.

vehicular homicide

Specifically refers to killings involving a vehicle, often due to reckless driving.

unpremeditated murder

Highlights the absence of planning in the killing, distinguishing it from murder.

second-degree murder

Indicates a level of intent between manslaughter and first-degree murder.

FAQs

What is the difference between "manslaughter" and murder?

"Manslaughter" involves an unlawful killing without malice aforethought, while murder requires intent or premeditation. Manslaughter is generally considered a less severe charge than murder.

What are some examples of situations that could lead to a "manslaughter" charge?

Examples include killings resulting from criminal negligence, such as reckless driving, or killings that occur in the heat of passion without prior planning.

What are the different types of "manslaughter"?

The primary types are voluntary "voluntary manslaughter", which involves intent but occurs under mitigating circumstances, and involuntary "involuntary manslaughter", which results from criminal negligence.

What are some legal consequences of being convicted of "manslaughter"?

The penalties for "manslaughter" vary depending on the jurisdiction and the specific circumstances of the case, but generally involve imprisonment and significant fines.