Meaning & Definition of word "Lynch"
to
Lynch
/lɪnʧ/
verb:
- 1. To put to death, especially by hanging, without legal authority or trial.
- Example: The mob decided to lynch the accused man without waiting for the trial.
- 2. To avenge a perceived wrong by mob action.
- Example: In the past, communities sometimes lynched individuals accused of crimes without any evidence.
- 3. To punish (someone) for an alleged crime in a brutal or public manner.
- Example: The historical violence against certain groups often included lynching as a form of punishment.
Etymology
Possibly named after Charles Lynch, a Virginia farmer and magistrate who conducted extrajudicial punishments during the American Revolution.
Common Phrases and Expressions
lynch mob:
A group of people who take the law into their own hands to punish someone accused of a crime.
Related Words
vigilante:
A person who takes action to enforce laws without legal authority.
extrajudicial:
Performed without legal approval or authority.
Slang Meanings of lynch
Meaning: To unjustly accuse or punish someone in a harsh manner.
Example Sentence: They lynched him on social media without knowing the real story.