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femicide

American  
[fem-uh-sahyd] / ˈfɛm əˌsaɪd /

noun

  1. the act of killing a woman, as by a domestic partner or a member of a criminal enterprise.

    The rate of femicide where there is drug trafficking is far greater than it is elsewhere.

  2. the deliberate, wanton violation and massacre of women and girls, as in a particular ethnic group by an invading army.

  3. a person who kills a woman.

    In certain countries, femicides appear to act with impunity.


Etymology

Origin of femicide

First recorded in 1820–30; feme + -i- + -cide

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She was part of an expert commission that examined 211 recent murders of women for common characteristics, then drafted the femicide law.

From BBC • Nov. 25, 2025

Two years on, MPs have voted for a law on femicide after a long and passionately debated session of parliament.

From BBC • Nov. 25, 2025

"I want this to carry on and be a platform against violence for women and girls. It'll be used to help other organisations, femicide awareness and things like that."

From BBC • Jun. 20, 2025

She acknowledged that her often “desperately sad” project took an emotional toll on her “as it would anyone really” but said she was driven by wanting to “change the narrative” around femicide.

From BBC • Aug. 17, 2024

Among the issues that Mexican women face are femicide, or women killed because of their gender, a gender employment gap and inadequate policies guaranteeing sexual and reproductive rights.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 3, 2024

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