verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
/ɪˈlɛktɹəkjuːt/
/əˈlɛktɹəkjuːt/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:IH2 L EH1 K T R AH0 K Y UW2 T
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To kill by electric shock.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
Her hairdryer fell into the tub while she was bathing, and she was electrocuted.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To execute by electric shock, often by means of an electric chair.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
The executioner threw the switch on Old Sparky, and the condemned prisoner was electrocuted for his crimes.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: fry
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To inflict a severe electric shock (not necessarily fatal) upon.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: informal, proscribed, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: electrify, shock, tase, zap
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
kill by electrocution, as in the electric chair
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The serial killer was electrocuted
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: fry
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: kill
5
verb
Meaning 5
kill by electric shock
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
She dropped the hair dryer into the bathtub and was instantly electrocuted
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: kill
History
Etymology
Blend of electro- + execute, after electrocution.
Across languages
Translations
24 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Catalan:
electrocutar
— to cause death from immediate complications resulting from electric shock
Chinese Mandarin:
電死 /电死
(diànsǐ)
— to cause death from immediate complications resulting from electric shock
Czech:
popravit na elektrickém křesle
— to cause death from immediate complications resulting from electric shock
Czech:
zabít elektrickým proudem
— to cause death from immediate complications resulting from electric shock
Dutch:
elektrocuteren
— to cause death from immediate complications resulting from electric shock
Finnish:
teloittaa sähkötuolissa
— to cause death from immediate complications resulting from electric shock
Finnish:
kuolla sähköiskuun
— to cause death from immediate complications resulting from electric shock
French:
électrocuter
— to cause death from immediate complications resulting from electric shock
Galician:
electrocutar
— to cause death from immediate complications resulting from electric shock
German:
auf dem elektrischen Stuhl hinrichten
— to cause death from immediate complications resulting from electric shock
German:
durch Stromschlag töten
— to cause death from immediate complications resulting from electric shock
Greek:
ηλεκτρίζω
(ilektrízo)
— to cause death from immediate complications resulting from electric shock
Hebrew:
חישמל למוות
(khishmél l'mávet)
— to cause death from immediate complications resulting from electric shock
Italian:
fulminare
— to cause death from immediate complications resulting from electric shock
Luxembourgish:
elektrocutéieren
— to cause death from immediate complications resulting from electric shock
Portuguese:
eletrocutar
— to cause death from immediate complications resulting from electric shock
Russian:
казни́ть на электри́ческом сту́ле
(kaznítʹ na elektríčeskom stúle)
— to cause death from immediate complications resulting from electric shock
Russian:
уби́ть то́ком
(ubítʹ tókom)
— to cause death from immediate complications resulting from electric shock
Spanish:
electrocutar
— to cause death from immediate complications resulting from electric shock
Chinese Mandarin:
電擊 /电击
(diànjī)
— to inflict a severe electric shock, not necessarily fatally
Finnish:
antaa sähköisku
— to inflict a severe electric shock, not necessarily fatally
German:
einen heftigen Stromschlag versetzen
— to inflict a severe electric shock, not necessarily fatally
Russian:
бить то́ком
(bitʹ tókom)
— to inflict a severe electric shock, not necessarily fatally
Russian:
уда́рить то́ком
(udáritʹ tókom)
— to inflict a severe electric shock, not necessarily fatally
