C2[S or U]the killing of many people cruelly and unfairly, especially in a war: Hardly anyone in the town escaped the slaughter when the rebels were defeated.We must find ways of reducing the slaughter which takes place on our roads (= death of many people in motor accidents) every year.Murder and attempted murderKillingKillingMurder and attempted murder›[U]the killing of animals for meat: The geese are being fattened for slaughter.→ See alsoslaughterhouseKillingMurder and attempted murderAnimal farming - general words›[S]an occasion when one team is very easily defeated by the other: Saturday's game was an absolute slaughter.Winning and defeatingScoring, winning and losing in sport