- Definition
- Definition
- Example Sentences
- Word History
- Phrases Containing
- Related Articles
- Entries Near
-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
lynched; lynching; lynches
: to put to death (as by hanging) by mob action without legal approval or permission
The accused killer was lynched by an angry mob.
lyncher
noun
Examples of lynch in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the American Southwest, thousands of Mexican Americans were lynched from the end of the Mexican-American War through the early 20th century, in attacks aimed at instilling fear in a minority.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024
Williams, acknowledged as the first NAACP member to be lynched, was not the last.
—Tracy Scott Forson, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024
And several students threatened to lynch him at a specific date and time, the lawsuit alleged.
—Ben Poston, Los Angeles Times, 18 Oct. 2024
Till, a Black 14-year-old boy, was kidnapped, beaten and lynched in Mississippi in August 1955 after being accused of whistling at a white woman.
—Deena Zaru, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for lynch
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.
Dictionary Entries Near lynch
Cite this Entry
“Lynch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lynch. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
lynch
verb
: to put to death (as by hanging) by mob action without legal authority
lyncher
noun
Legal Definition
lynch
transitive verb
: to put to death (as by hanging) by mob action without legal sanction
lyncher
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on lynch
Nglish: Translation of lynch for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of lynch for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share