electric chair

noun

1. a chair used to electrocute criminals sentenced to death.
2. the penalty of legal electrocution.

electric chair

noun

1. 1. an electrified chair for executing criminals
   2. execution by this method

Word History and Origins

Origin of electric chair¹

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75

Example Sentences

The electric chair was the only method offered to Sigmon in accordance with the state’s new capital punishment law, which effectively made it the default manner of execution.

From The Daily Beast

Two days before South Carolina death row inmate Brad Sigmon was due to be put to death in the state’s 109-year-old electric chair, he won a rare reprieve from the state’s Supreme Court.

From The Daily Beast

“What’s going on is you’re fixing to ride the lightning, son,” Gutierrez yelled at him, a foreboding reference to capital punishment and the electric chair.

From Washington Post

A malfunctioning electric chair necessitated the use of three separate jolts instead of the usual one, setting fire to the condemned man before the execution could be carried out.

From Washington Post

I was once rewarded for some help with a visit to it, and sat in the electric chair for a moment.

From The Daily Beast

On view in Queens, a small, dark “Little Electric Chair” reminds us of that body of work.

From The Daily Beast

The assumption was that an electric chair death would occur by jolting the heart into stopping.

From The Daily Beast

The main approaches to execution since the guillotine have been hanging, the firing squad, and the electric chair.

From The Daily Beast

When he discovered electricity it took him less than a decade to discover the electric chair.

From The Daily Beast

If you were to do that in this State it would be the electric chair for yours.

From Project Gutenberg

The circumstantial evidence was as complete as any that ever sent a criminal to the gallows or the electric chair.

From Project Gutenberg

Like an electric chair, the phlebostasis chair was supplied with cuffs for both arms and legs.

From Project Gutenberg

And sure enough a day or two later I was put in the electric chair for "reactions."

From Project Gutenberg

Any one who puts the extinguisher on Matson would go to the electric chair sure, and nothing could save him.

From Project Gutenberg