Homicide

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈhÉ’mɪsaɪd/
• US enPR: hämʹə-sÄ«d, IPA: /ˈhÉ‘mÉ™saɪd/ or enPR: hōʹmÉ™-sÄ«d, IPA: /ˈhoÊŠmÉ™saɪd/

Origin

From Old French homicide, from Latin homicīda ("man-slayer") and homicīdium ("manslaughter"). Equivalent to + -cide.

Noun

1. (uncountable) The killing of one person by another, whether premeditated or unintentional.
2. (countable) A person who kills another.
3. (countable, US, police jargon) A victim of homicide; a person who has been unlawfully killed by someone else.

Synonyms

• (unlawful killing of a person by another): assassination, killing, first-degree murder (US; intentional), manslaughter (unintentional), murder (intentional), second-degree murder (US; unintentional)
• (person who unlawfully kills another person): assassin, killer, man-slayer, murderer
• (victim of homicide): murder victim

Derived terms

• homicidal