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

Those cities, as Salon has previously reported, have also all seen significant decreases in homicide rates in recent years.

From Salon

Since then, authorities have launched a homicide investigation.

From Salon

When Bennet Tarlow, an influential Orange County developer, is found eviscerated by a mountain lion in Caspers Wilderness Park, homicide detective Lew Gale — a former Marine sniper — is sent to track and kill the predator.

From Los Angeles Times

Believing the death was a homicide, deputies and rangers from the Bureau of Land Management began interviewing festival attendees to try to piece together what happened.

From Los Angeles Times

Witnesses told sheriff’s homicide investigators that at around 2:30 a.m., several vehicles were parked at the south side of the Cerritos Sports Complex and Skate Park on Bloomfield Avenue.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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