# genocide

/ˈdʒɛnəˌsaɪd/ (US) · /dʒˈɛnəsˌaɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/genocide
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. systematic destruction of a group

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the planned killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular nation or ethnic group.

For teachers: the systematic and deliberate destruction of a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group. Often used in legal and historical contexts to describe mass atrocities.

- The international court investigated whether the military had committed genocide against the minority group.
- Historians continue to debate the specific criteria required to classify the mass killings as a genocide under international law.

Usage: Often used with the verb 'commit' or 'accuse of'.

### 2. destruction of culture

noun · CEFR C2 · Academic · Formal

the act of destroying a group's culture, language, or way of life rather than killing the people themselves.

For teachers: the systematic destruction of a group's cultural heritage, language, or social institutions; often referred to as cultural genocide.

- The forced closing of local schools was described by some as a form of cultural genocide.
- The report argued that the systematic suppression of the native language constituted a genocide of the community's unique cultural identity.

Teaching tip: This sense is often qualified with the adjective 'cultural' to distinguish it from physical mass killing.

### 3. to commit genocide

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

to completely destroy or kill off a specific group of people.

For teachers: to subject a group to genocide; to eliminate a population systematically. This transitive use is less common than the noun form.

- The dictator was accused of trying to genocide the ethnic minorities in the north.
- The regime's ultimate goal was to genocide the opposition through a combination of forced famine and targeted executions.

Usage: This is a transitive verb and requires a direct object.

## Examples

- The international community must work together to prevent genocide.
- The tribunal was established to prosecute those responsible for the genocide and other crimes against humanity.
- Scholars debate whether the systematic displacement of the population constituted a genocide or if the intent to physically destroy the group was absent.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.