electric chair

noun

1
: a chair used in legal electrocution
2
: the penalty of death by electrocution

Examples of electric chair in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Though originally convicted then sentenced to die in the electric chair for the murders, Speck was resentenced to eight consecutive terms of 50 to 150 years each after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1972 that the death penalty of Illinois and other states was unconstitutional. Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025 He was convicted on three counts of murder, sentenced to death in the electric chair and executed on January 24, 1989. Chris Lau, CNN Money, 28 May 2025 Wendt’s maternal grandfather was photographer Tom Howard, who disguised himself as a priest to clandestinely snap one of the most infamous tabloid shots of all time — a picture of murderer Ruth Snyder in the electric chair at Sing Sing Prison in 1928 just as the switch was thrown. Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 20 May 2025 The electric chair is the primary means of execution in South Carolina. Joyce Orlando, Nashville Tennessean, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for electric chair

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of electric chair was in 1883

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Cite this Entry

“Electric chair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/electric%20chair. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.

Legal Definition

electric chair

noun
elec·​tric chair
1
: a chair used in performing a legal electrocution
2
: the penalty of death by electrocution

More from Merriam-Webster on electric chair

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