Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

the guillotine

noun

/ˈɡiːəˌtiːn/

Definition

A device used for carrying out executions by decapitation.

Examples

During the French Revolution, many people feared the guillotine.
The execution was carried out with a guillotine, which was deemed more humane.
In history classes, we learned about the guillotine’s role in revolutionary France.

Meaning

The guillotine consists of a heavy blade that is dropped from a height to swiftly cut off the head of the condemned person. It became a symbol of the French Revolution and is often associated with justice and the extreme measures taken during that period.