Meaning & use
gallows
Last updated
A wooden structure, typically with a beam, used for execution by hanging.
See it in a sentence
The prisoner was led to the gallows at dawn.
The museum's exhibit included a replica of a nineteenth-century gallows.
A note on using this word
Although grammatically plural in form, 'gallows' is usually treated as singular, as in 'the gallows was built overnight'; the phrase 'gallows humor' describes joking about grim or frightening situations.
Words with a similar meaning
scaffold
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gallows”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.