ENGLISH
REFERENCE

kira

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈkɪɹɑ// ki·ra

n. a person who kills criminals or people they think are bad, usually because they believe they are doing something good for the world. This word comes from a famous Japanese story and is often used online.

n. a vigilante who targets and executes individuals perceived as immoral or criminal. Derived from the Japanese pronunciation of 'killer', it is primarily used in the context of pop culture or internet discourse regarding self-appointed justice.


SIMPLE

The mysterious killer was nicknamed Kira by the public.

CONTEXTUAL

Online debates often focus on whether Kira is a hero or a common murderer.

COMPLEX

The narrative explores the psychological descent of a student who adopts the persona of Kira, believing that his supernatural ability to eliminate criminals will create a utopia.

Origin

Variant of Kyra or borrowed from Russian Ки́ра (Kíra), ultimately from Persian کوروش (Kūrūš). Also used as a respelling of Ciara, from Irish [Term?].

Usage

Often used as a proper noun or a title in fan communities; derived from the Japanese loanword 'kira' (killer).

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