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

Electricity tore through a blue-violet sky and an enormous electric chair materialized above Hetfield. — Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026

In that time period, Tennessee put seven inmates to death — two by injection and five in the electric chair. — ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026

In a case 80 years ago, 16-year-old Willie Francis survived an execution via the electric chair in Louisiana due to a malfunction. — Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026

Thompson was set to be executed by the electric chair in 1982 and 1987, when then-governors Bob Graham and Bob Martinez signed death warrants for Thompson. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1883, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for electric chair

• concessionaire
• abwehr
• affair
• affaire
• airfare
• altair
• armchair
• aware
• beware
• bugbear
• carfare
• childcare

Legal Definition

electric chair

noun

elec·​tric chair

1

: a chair used in performing a legal electrocution

2

: the penalty of death by electrocution