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

“We know that when carjackings go down, when use of guns go down, when homicides or robberies go down, neighborhoods feel safer and are safer,” Bowser said in late August.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Yet even with fewer killings to investigate, homicide “clearance rates,” a measure of how often cases are solved by police, remain steady.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Tuesday and found three people suffering from gunshot wounds inside, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, which is assisting in the homicide investigation.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles County sheriff’s homicide detectives investigating the scene found the decapitated children in separate bedrooms the following Friday.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Meanwhile, his younger brother admitted to a cover-up but denied knowledge of a homicide.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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