corporate manslaughter: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowLegal, formal, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “corporate manslaughter” mean?
The criminal offence of causing a person's death through the gross negligence or serious mismanagement of a company or organisation.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The criminal offence of causing a person's death through the gross negligence or serious mismanagement of a company or organisation.
A legal concept that holds a corporation criminally liable for a death resulting from its serious failures in duty of care. It is a statutory offence in many jurisdictions, distinct from individual manslaughter charges.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term 'corporate manslaughter' is the official title of the UK's Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007. In the United States, the concept is generally referred to as 'corporate criminal liability for homicide' or falls under broader statutes; the specific phrase 'corporate manslaughter' is less common in formal US legal terminology.
Connotations
In the UK, it is a well-defined legal term with specific statutory meaning. In the US, it is more of a descriptive or journalistic term, as homicide law is primarily state-level.
Frequency
The phrase is significantly more frequent in UK English, especially in legal, regulatory, and news contexts. In US English, it is rare and usually appears in comparative law discussions or reports on UK cases.
Grammar
How to Use “corporate manslaughter” in a Sentence
The company was charged with corporate manslaughter.The prosecution brought a case of corporate manslaughter.A verdict of corporate manslaughter was reached.The act created the offence of corporate manslaughter.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “corporate manslaughter” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The company could be prosecuted for corporate manslaughter.
- They were investigating whether to corporate-manslaughter charge the firm.
American English
- The DA is considering charges equivalent to corporate manslaughter.
- The corporation was held liable in a manslaughter-like prosecution.
adjective
British English
- The corporate manslaughter legislation was strengthened.
- A corporate manslaughter conviction carries an unlimited fine.
American English
- The case set a precedent for corporate manslaughter liability.
- They discussed corporate manslaughter statutes in comparative law.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
A serious risk and compliance issue discussed at board level, often in relation to health and safety protocols and crisis management.
Academic
A subject of study in law, criminology, and business ethics, analysing its effectiveness, jurisprudence, and deterrent value.
Everyday
Rarely used in casual conversation. Might appear in news reports about major industrial disasters or fatal accidents at work.
Technical
A precise legal term referring to a specific statutory offence requiring proof of a 'gross breach of a relevant duty of care' caused by senior management failures.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “corporate manslaughter”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “corporate manslaughter”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “corporate manslaughter”
- Using 'corporate murder' interchangeably (murder requires intent).
- Spelling as 'corporate manslaugher' (missing 't').
- Thinking it applies to any workplace death (it requires gross negligence and senior management failure).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a separate offence that targets the organization as a whole, focusing on systemic management failures rather than individual blame, though individuals can still be charged separately.
Yes, the legislation typically applies to organizations of all sizes, including corporations, partnerships, and government departments, if they owe a relevant duty of care.
The primary penalty is an unlimited fine. The court may also impose a remedial order requiring the company to address the causes of the failure, and a publicity order forcing it to publicly announce its conviction.
It was created to overcome the historical difficulty of convicting large corporations under previous laws, which required proof that a single 'directing mind' of the company was guilty. The new law looks at the collective failure of senior management.
The criminal offence of causing a person's death through the gross negligence or serious mismanagement of a company or organisation.
Corporate manslaughter is usually legal, formal, journalistic in register.
Corporate manslaughter: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɔː.pər.ət ˈmænˌslɔː.tə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɔːr.pɚ.ət ˈmænˌslɑː.tɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The buck stops at the boardroom. (Related concept)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CORPORATE (the company) + MAN (person) + SLAUGHTER (killing). A company 'slaughtering' a person through its gross negligence.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE CORPORATION AS A CRIMINAL BODY (The organisation itself can be found 'guilty' as a single entity).
Practice
Quiz
What is a key difference between 'corporate manslaughter' and 'corporate murder'?