involuntary manslaughter

noun

: manslaughter resulting from the failure to perform a legal duty expressly required to safeguard human life, from the commission of an unlawful act not constituting a felony, or from the commission of a lawful act in a negligent or improper manner

Examples of involuntary manslaughter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Tamela Peterson, 59, of Brighton, the Oxford Center's CEO, and Gary Marken, 67, of Spring Arbor, the center's operations manager, face charges of second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. — Kristen Jordan Shamus, Freep.com, 31 Aug. 2026 Per Variety, an investigation for involuntary manslaughter has been opened. — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026 She was initially charged with child endangerment resulting in death and pleaded not guilty, but later pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in July. — Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register, 28 Aug. 2026 Spitzer charged the boy’s mother with multiple felonies including involuntary manslaughter, child endangerment, accessory after the fact to a crime and several misdemeanors tied to providing the bike to her son and lying to police. — Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for involuntary manslaughter

Word History

First Known Use

1792, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of involuntary manslaughter was in 1792

Rhymes for involuntary manslaughter

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Browse Nearby Words

involuntary deposit
involuntary manslaughter
involuntary muscle
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Cite this Entry

“Involuntary manslaughter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/involuntary%20manslaughter. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Legal Definition

involuntary manslaughter

see also:
manslaughter
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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