suicide
[ soo-uh-sahyd ]
/ ˈsu əˌsaɪd /
Save This Word!
noun
the intentional taking of one's own life.
destruction of one's own interests or prospects: Buying that house was financial suicide.
a person who intentionally takes their own life.
verb (used without object), su·i·cid·ed, su·i·cid·ing.
to intentionally end one’s own life; to die by suicide.
verb (used with object), su·i·cid·ed, su·i·cid·ing.
to kill (oneself).
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON “ITS” VS. “IT’S”!
Apostrophes can be tricky; prove you know the difference between it’s and its in this crafty quiz!
Question 1 of 12
On the farm, the feed for chicks is significantly different from the roosters’; ______ not even comparable.
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”; see origin at -cide
usage note for suicide
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.
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 WORDS FROM suicide
an·ti·su·i·cide, adjectiveWords nearby suicide
sugh, sugi, Suharto, Sui, suicidal, suicide, suicide bomber, suicide clause, suicide machine, suicide pact, suicide squeeze
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for suicide
British Dictionary definitions for suicide
suicide
/ (ˈsuːɪˌsaɪd, ˈsjuː-) /
noun
the act or an instance of killing oneself intentionally
the self-inflicted ruin of one's own prospects or interestsa merger would be financial suicide
a person who kills himself intentionally
(modifier) reckless; extremely dangerousa suicide mission
(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 enemya suicide attack; suicide bomber
Word Origin for suicide
C17: from New Latin suīcīdium, from Latin suī of oneself + -cīdium, from caedere to kill
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
Medical definitions for suicide
suicide
[ sōō′ĭ-sīd′ ]
n.
The act or an instance of intentionally killing oneself.
One who commits suicide.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.