Homicide is the act of one person killing another person. In law, it is a broad term that includes both criminal killings, like murder, and some killings that may be legally justified.
From Latin “homicidium,” from “homo” meaning “person” and “-cidium” from “caedere,” to kill. It literally means “person-killing.”
“Homicide” sounds technical because it’s a legal category, not a moral judgment by itself. A single word can cover everything from cold‑blooded murder to a killing in self‑defense that the law allows. That’s why news reports often say “homicide” first—before courts decide what kind of killing it was.
Homicide patterns are gendered, with men more often perpetrators and women disproportionately victims in intimate-partner contexts. Reporting on homicide has sometimes obscured these dynamics or framed male violence against women as isolated ‘crimes of passion.’
Use ‘homicide’ precisely and avoid sensationalism; when relevant, acknowledge gendered patterns and power dynamics.
["killing","unlawful killing","murder (where legally accurate)"]
In discussions of homicide, credit the work of women’s rights advocates, researchers, and communities who have exposed patterns like femicide and pushed for legal recognition.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.