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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 believes the new definition of femicide is too vague and will prove difficult for judges to implement.

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

On Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa told the G20 Social Summit that South Africa had "declared gender-based violence and femicide a national crisis" in 2019.

From BBC • Nov. 20, 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

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