fratricide

American  

[fra-tri-sahyd] / ˈfræ trɪˌsaɪd /

noun

1. the act of killing one's brother or a member of one’s own tribe or group.

2. a person who kills their brother or a member of their own tribe or group.

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fratricide British  

/ ˈfreɪ-, ˈfrætrɪˌsaɪd /

noun

1. the act of killing one's brother

2. a person who kills his brother

3. military the destruction of or interference with a nuclear missile before it can strike its target caused by the earlier explosion of a warhead at a nearby target

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Other Word Forms

• fratricidal adjective

Etymology

Origin of fratricide

First recorded in 1490–1500; fratricide ( def. 1 ) from Middle French, from Late Latin frātricīdium, equivalent to frātricīd(a) frātri- (combining form of frāter ) brother + -cīda -cide + -ium noun suffix; fratricide ( def. 2 ) from Middle French, from frātricīda

Example Sentences

The fratricide is likely stoked by the press, which likes a “Dems-in-disarray” story and would love a presidential primary.

From Washington Post

If Russia and Ukraine are brothers, as the Kremlin professes, then this is fratricide.

From BBC

The breakaway Ukrainian Orthodox Church has vehemently denounced the Russian invasion as fratricide.

From New York Times

Indeed, the Forbes critic called this fratricide scene "a totally pointless subplot that achieves nothing and only serves to confuse us in the end."

From Salon

The hope peddlers and professional centrists are promoting a dream-narrative about a Republican civil war and descent into chaos and fratricide.

From Salon