homicide

[hom-uh-sahyd, hoh-muh-]

noun

1. the killing of one human being by another.

2. a person who kills another; murderer.

homicide

/ ˈhɒmɪˌsaɪd /

noun

1. the killing of a human being by another person

2. a person who kills another

homicide

1. The killing of one person by another, whether intended (murder) or not (manslaughter). Not all homicide is unlawful; killing in self-defense, for example, is not a crime.

Other Word Forms

• self-homicide noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of homicide¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin homicīdium “a killing,” homicīda “killer,” equivalent to homi- (combining form of homō “man”) + -cīdium, -cīda, noun suffix; -cide

Word History and Origins

Origin of homicide¹

C14: from Old French, from Latin homo man + caedere to slay

Example Sentences

Violent crime numbers continue to drop, with homicides on pace for 50-year lows.

From Los Angeles Times

Between January and June, the homicide rate was down by a third compared with the same period last year, according to the Council on Criminal Justice.

From BBC

Those cities, as Salon has previously reported, have also all seen significant decreases in homicide rates in recent years.

From Salon

Since then, authorities have launched a homicide investigation.

From Salon

When Bennet Tarlow, an influential Orange County developer, is found eviscerated by a mountain lion in Caspers Wilderness Park, homicide detective Lew Gale — a former Marine sniper — is sent to track and kill the predator.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• assassination 
• crime 
• foul play 
• manslaughter 
• murder 
• slaying www.thesaurus.com