ENGLISH
REFERENCE

homicide

n. C / U
C1 Advanced US //ˈhɑməˌsaɪd// UK //hˈɒmɪsˌaɪd// homi·cide Technical

n. the act of one person killing another. It is a formal word often used by police, lawyers, and in news reports about crime.

n. the killing of one human being by another. Often used as a broad legal category that includes both intentional murder and unintentional manslaughter.


SIMPLE

The police are investigating the death as a homicide.

CONTEXTUAL

The detective was assigned to the homicide division after solving several high-profile murder cases in the city.

COMPLEX

While every murder is a homicide, not every homicide is a murder; legal systems distinguish between those involving criminal intent and those resulting from negligence or self-defense.

Origin

From Old French homicide, from Latin homicīda (“man-slayer”) and homicīdium (“manslaughter”).

Usage

Countable when referring to specific instances or cases; uncountable when referring to the general crime or the department handling it.

Pitfall

He committed a murder homicideHe committed a homicideHomicide is a general category; using it alongside 'murder' as a single compound noun is redundant.

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