ENGLISH
REFERENCE

homicides

n. countable
C1 Advanced US //ˈhɑməˌsaɪdz// UK //hˈɒmɪsˌaɪdz// homi·cides

n. the act of one person killing another. It is a general word used in law and news reports for any kind of killing.

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


SIMPLE

The city reported a decrease in homicides this year.

CONTEXTUAL

Police investigators arrived at the scene to determine if the death was an accident or one of several recent homicides.

COMPLEX

While the legal definition of homicides encompasses various degrees of culpability, the public often equates the term strictly with premeditated murder, leading to confusion during high-profile trials.

Synonyms
Usage

Often appears in the plural when discussing crime statistics or multiple incidents.

Pitfall

The man was charged with a homicide.The man was charged with murder.Homicide is the general act of killing, but 'murder' or 'manslaughter' are the specific crimes a person is usually charged with in court.

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