patricide

[ pa-truh-sahyd, pey‐ ]

/ ˈpæ trəˌsaɪd, ˈpeɪ‐ /

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noun

the act of killing one's own father.

a person who commits such an act.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of patricide

First recorded in 1585–95; patri- + -cide

OTHER WORDS FROM patricide

pat·ri·cid·al, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH patricide

matricide, parricide, patricide

Words nearby patricide

patriarchy, patriate, Patricia, patrician, patriciate, patricide, Patrick, Patrick, Saint, patriclinous, patricliny, patrifocal

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use patricide in a sentence

Tyrion, now on the lam for patricide by crossbow, is destined for an unknown foreign port like a diminutive Edward Snowden.
Valar Morghulis: Game of Thrones’ Women Are Going to Rule the World|Scott Bixby|June 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As a writer, Dyer commits this artistic patricide regularly and more elegantly than most.
Geoff Dyer Takes on Andrei Tarkovsky’s Film ‘Stalker’ in ‘Zona’|Chris Wallace|February 25, 2012|DAILY BEAST
This was laughed at before the shadow of Booth's patricide was cast ahead.
The Lincoln Story Book|Henry L. Williams
"But even there infanticide was more popular than patricide," Farrell pointed out.
Pet Farm|Roger Dee

As in similar psychological situations, patricide and matricide followed.
After the Rain|Sam Vaknin
There was a time when the ancient Romans did not think that there existed such a crime as patricide; and hence it is.
Auricular Confession and Popish Nunneries|William Hogan
Did the ancient Romans encourage their children to kill their parents, or to commit patricide?
Auricular Confession and Popish Nunneries|William Hogan

British Dictionary definitions for patricide

patricide

/ (ˈpætrɪˌsaɪd) /

noun

the act of killing one's father

a person who kills his father

Derived forms of patricide

patricidal, adjective

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