Ma'anar ƙamus na "kisan jama'a" shine aikin kashe mutane masu yawa, yawanci a lokaci guda ko a cikin ɗan gajeren lokaci. Ana amfani da wannan kalma sau da yawa don bayyana abubuwan da suka faru inda aka kashe mutane da yawa a wani tashin hankali, kamar harbi ko tashin bam. Matsakaicin adadin waɗanda abin ya shafa da ake buƙata don cancanta a matsayin kisan kai na iya bambanta, amma gabaɗaya ya haɗa da aƙalla huɗu ko fiye da waɗanda abin ya shafa. Ana amfani da kalmar sau da yawa sabanin sauran nau'ikan kisan kai, kamar kisan kai, wanda ya shafi kashe mutane da yawa a cikin dogon lokaci.