mass murder
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mass murder
The killing of a large number of people, often as part of a single event or a systematic action.
Der Täter wurde wegen mehrfachen Massenmordes zu lebenslanger Haft verurteilt.
The perpetrator was sentenced to life in prison for multiple counts of mass murder.
The word is a compound of 'Massen' (plural of 'Masse', here in the sense of 'many people') and 'Mord' (murder). So it literally describes the murder of a large crowd of people.
Historische Dokumente belegen den schrecklichen Massenmord.
Historical documents provide evidence of the terrible mass murder.
'Massenmord' (mass murder) is often combined with certain verbs. Typical formulations include 'einen Massenmord begehen' (to commit mass murder), 'einen Massenmord planen' (to plan mass murder), or 'einen Massenmord verhindern' (to prevent mass murder).
Die internationale Gemeinschaft versuchte, den drohenden Massenmord zu verhindern.
The international community tried to prevent the impending mass murder.
This is a very strong and formal word, used mainly in legal, historical, and journalistic contexts. It has a very serious and grave connotation.
In den Nachrichten wurde über die Aufklärung eines Massenmordes berichtet.
The news reported on the investigation of a mass murder.
massacre
Massaker and Massenmord can both refer to the deliberate killing of many people. Massaker usually means a specific, completed act of violence, whereas Massenmord can also include a prolonged or systematic action. Massaker often fits a single event, while Massenmord is more suitable for the broader process.
Der Massenmord an der Bevölkerung dauerte über mehrere Monate an.
The mass murder of the population continued for several months.
Die Soldaten verübten bei dem Angriff ein Massaker an den Dorfbewohnern.
The soldiers committed a massacre against the villagers during the attack.
