The killing or hunting of whales, particularly in a deliberate or systematic way.
From Latin 'cetus' (whale) + '-cide' (killing or killer). Formed like other -cide words (homicide, pesticide) to denote the destruction of whales.
Ceticide is a term rarely used in formal science, but it became relevant during whaling's peak and environmental movements—it emphasizes the deliberate nature of whale hunting and connects it linguistically to other forms of killing we condemn.
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