honour killing

British

noun

a murder committed by a male on a female relative considered to have brought dishonour to the family, usually through sexual activity forbidden by religion or tradition

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

James Horne KC, mitigating, said Nur fled Somalia in 2016 after his wife was a victim of an honour killing, and was diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder.

From BBC

After Al-Khatib was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 20 years Det Ch Insp Phil Reade said Ms Alayed's death had been a so-called "honour killing".

From BBC

Saman Abbas's so-called honour killing shocked Italy.

From BBC

Pakistani police are investigating the so-called "honour killing" of a young woman who appeared in a viral photo that police suspect was doctored.

From BBC

Police looking for the body of a woman who was murdered by her husband in a "pre-planned honour killing" ten years ago have begun a "detailed search" of a lay-by, a force has said.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023