lynchage

lynching

noun lan-SHAHZH Rare

Origin: From English 'lynching', named after Charles Lynch, a Virginia planter.

Usage Note

Lynchage refers both to the historical act of extrajudicial mob killing and, figuratively in French, to a savage public attack on someone's reputation — un lynchage médiatique ('a media lynching'). The verb is lyncher. The word is always treated seriously; its figurative use in journalism is common but contested.

Examples

"Le lynchage médiatique a détruit sa carrière."

Natural Translation

The media lynching destroyed his career.

Related Words

Explore French by topic

FrenchNow

Faire in French: To Make, To Do, and More

Faire in French means more than make and do: master faire vs rendre, weather and sports idioms, the causative, and the mistakes English speakers make.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

Passé Composé vs Imparfait: When to Use Each

Passé composé tells the story; imparfait paints the scene. Use this 2-second flowchart, trigger words, and paired examples to pick the right French tense.

June 3, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

The Bonjour Rule: French Etiquette for Visitors

Always say bonjour before you ask, order, or pay in France — the unspoken rule that opens every door. A respectful visitor's guide to French etiquette.

June 4, 2026 6 min read

FrenchNow

Je t'aime vs Je t'adore: I Love You in French

Je t'aime is the real romantic I love you; je t'adore means warm fondness, not romance. Here's the person-vs-thing rule and the bien trap that flips it.

June 4, 2026 6 min read