Homicides

/ˈhɑm.ə.saɪdz/ noun

Definition

Plural of homicide: the act of one person killing another, regardless of whether it's legal or illegal.

Etymology

From Latin 'homicida,' combining 'homo' (man/human) and 'cida' (killer, from 'caedere,' to kill). The term is neutral about legality because technically it includes lawful killings.

Kelly Says

Homicide is technically neutral—murder, manslaughter, self-defense, and even lawful executions are all 'homicides'—and this distinction between the act and the legal judgment is why forensic investigators and lawyers use this clinical term rather than emotionally-loaded words.

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