suicide

American  

[soo-uh-sahyd] / ˈsu əˌsaɪd /

noun

1. the intentional taking of one's own life.

2. destruction of one's own interests or prospects.

   Buying that house was financial suicide.

3. a person who intentionally takes their own life.

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verb (used without object)

suicided, suiciding

1. to intentionally end one’s own life; to die by suicide.

verb (used with object)

suicided, suiciding

1. to kill (oneself ).

suicide British  

/ ˈsjuː-, ˈsuːɪˌsaɪd /

noun

1. the act or an instance of killing oneself intentionally

2. the self-inflicted ruin of one's own prospects or interests

   a merger would be financial suicide

3. a person who kills himself intentionally

4. (modifier) reckless; extremely dangerous

   a suicide mission

5. (modifier) (of an action) undertaken or (of a person) undertaking an action in the knowledge that it will result in the death of the person performing it in order that maximum damage may be inflicted on an enemy

   a suicide attack

   suicide bomber

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Sensitive Note

In English, the verb suicide exists (e.g., Many teens who suicide have experienced abuse or bullying ), but its use is rare. Rather, the most common way to express the idea of taking one’s own life uses the noun suicide in the expressions to commit suicide or to attempt suicide . However, the phrase commit suicide is discouraged by major editorial style guides, mental health professionals, and specialists in suicide prevention. The verb commit is associated with crime (in the justice system) and sin (in religion). Using such moralistic language deepens the emotional pain surrounding a suicide. The verb phrases to die by suicide and to end one’s life are now preferred over the common expression commit suicide . The adjectives successful , unsuccessful , and failed are words that should be avoided when describing a suicide or suicide attempt, as is language that either romanticizes or stigmatizes the act. Suicide is undeniably a hard subject to broach. It is okay to talk about suicide; studies show that discussing suicide with someone will not make that person suicidal or increase the likelihood of acting on suicidal ideation. But using language that criminalizes the act is insensitive to those whose lives have been touched by suicide.

Other Word Forms

• antisuicide adjective

Etymology

Origin of suicide

First recorded in 1650–60; from New Latin suīcīdium, equivalent to Latin suī “of oneself,” genitive singular of reflexive pronoun + Latin combining form -cīda “killer”; -cide

Example Sentences

A public inquiry found MI5 had not given an "accurate picture" of the key intelligence it held on the suicide bomber who carried out that attack.

From BBC

During the Manchester Arena public inquiry, and an earlier official review, MI5 provided a false narrative about intelligence it received about the suicide bomber before the attack.

From BBC

They set up a charity to help other families bereaved by murder, culpable homicide and suicide.

From BBC

Sarah Anderson, the founder of mental health charity the Listening Place, receives a damehood for services to suicide prevention.

From BBC

The six-month study analysed Welsh national health records, mortality data and mental health service use, and revealed there was no national system to track or categorise paternal suicide, unlike maternal mortality.

From BBC