Homicide

/ˈhɒmɪsaɪd/

nounmediumCommonGeneral

Definitions

1

The unlawful killing of one human being by another.

/ˈhɒmɪsaɪd/

nounneutralmedium
General

The killing of one human being by another.

The detective was assigned to investigate the homicide case.

💡 Simply: Imagine a serious crime where someone intentionally causes another person's death. That's homicide.

👶 For kids: Homicide is when someone hurts another person so badly that the person dies.

More Examples

2

The rate of homicide in the city has increased this year.

3

Forensic evidence is crucial in solving a homicide.

How It's Used

Legal

"The investigation into the homicide revealed a complex web of relationships."

News Reporting

"Police are investigating a possible homicide in the city center."

Idioms & expressions

commit homicide

To kill someone unlawfully.

"The suspect was charged with committing homicide."

From Latin *homicidium*, from *homo* ('man') + *-cidium* ('killing'), tracing back to Proto-Indo-European roots meaning 'ground' and 'to cut'.

The term has been used in legal and religious contexts for centuries, with variations depending on legal systems and cultural views on killing.

Memory tip

Think of 'homo' (man) and 'cide' (killing). Homicide is the act of killing a human.

homocidehomicied

Usage

20%Spoken
80%Written