lynch
/lɪnt͡ʃ/verb, noun
lynch is spelled L-Y-N-C-H: 5 letters and one syllable. It appears 8.7 times per million words in written English, the 7,797th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a verb, lynch means “To execute (somebody) without a proper legal trial or procedure, especially by hanging and backed by a mob” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in lynch?
| Letters | 5: L-Y-N-C-H |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 1 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 8.7 times per million words; the 7,797th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is lynch?
Lynch appears 8.7 times per million words in written English, the 7,797th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce lynch?
- /lɪnt͡ʃ/
Lynch has one syllable (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-lynch.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of lynch
- lynches present, singular, he/she/it, plural
- lynching participle, present
- lynched participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does lynch mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
verb
- 1
To execute (somebody) without a proper legal trial or procedure, especially by hanging and backed by a mob.
- 2
colloquialTo castigate severely.
noun
- 1
Alternative form of linch.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Lynch in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense execute without a proper legal trial – see also take the law into one's own hand:
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does lynch come from?
First attested 1835, from Lynch law, which appeared in 1811. There is a popular claim that it was named after William Lynch, but equally strong arguments would have it named after Charles Lynch. For the surname, see Lynch. Ultimately a possible doublet of linch.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).