How is "manslaughter" defined?

Manslaughter is defined as the unlawful killing of another person without malice aforethought. This contrasts with murder, where there is an intention to kill or cause serious harm. Manslaughter typically involves situations where either the person acted in a heat of passion or was negligent, leading to the death, but without the premeditated intention found in murder charges. This distinction is crucial in law because it affects the severity of penalties and legal consequences. Thus, identifying manslaughter as an unlawful killing without malice aforethought captures its essence and differentiates it from more serious offenses such as murder.