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# humanely destroyed

phrase (verb phrase, passive: be humanely destroyed; active: humanely destroy an animal)

«humanely destroyed» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (euphemism, official, mainly UK) killed on purpose by a vet or officials in a way meant to cause no pain, usually of an animal that is sick, injured or dangerous.
2. (literal) destroyed in a kind way (rare; nearly always about animals).

### In the lessons

Used in news, police and council statements and vet reports to hide or soften the plain fact that an animal was killed. It sounds calm and official. Register: official, news; mainly UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand; Americans more often say «put down» or «euthanized».

### Examples

- The injured horse had to be humanely destroyed on the racecourse.
- Police said the dangerous dog was humanely destroyed.
- News: The whale was too badly hurt to save and was humanely destroyed.
- The farmer's sick sheep were humanely destroyed by the vet.
- Official notice: Any animal found with the disease will be humanely destroyed.
- The zoo said the old lion was humanely destroyed after a long illness.
- My aunt cried when she heard the stray had been humanely destroyed.

### Note

It means the animal was killed — it did not just break. It is not said about people. It can sound cold or bureaucratic to pet owners; with family, people say «put to sleep» or «put down». Plain word: killed.