Definition

Noun: 1. The killing of one human being by another human being: The act of causing the death of another person. This is a broad, legal term that encompasses both lawful and unlawful killings.

Usage

The word "homicide" is a formal and legal term. It is often used in official contexts such as police reports, legal documents, and news media to describe an incident where one person has killed another. It is a neutral term regarding the legality or intent of the act.

Examples

• The police are investigating the homicide that occurred downtown last night.
• The medical examiner ruled the death a homicide.
• The city has seen a sharp increase in homicide rates this year.

Advanced Usage

• "Justifiable homicide": A killing that is deemed legally acceptable, such as in self-defense or by a police officer in the line of duty.
  • The court determined the officer's actions were a case of justifiable homicide.
• "Criminal homicide": A killing that violates criminal law, including murder and manslaughter.
  • The suspect was charged with criminal homicide.

Variants and Related Words

• Homicidal (adj): Having a tendency towards or being characteristic of homicide; murderous.
  • The suspect was described as homicidal.
• Homicide detective (n): A police officer who investigates murders.
  • The homicide detective arrived at the crime scene.

Synonyms

• Murder: The unlawful premeditated killing of one human by another (a more specific type of homicide).
• Manslaughter: The crime of killing a human being without malice aforethought (a more specific type of homicide).
• Killing: The act of causing death (a more general term).

Related Phrases

• "Homicide rate": The number of homicides per a specified unit of population in a given area and time.
  • The homicide rate in the metropolitan area is a major concern.
• "Homicide squad": A unit within a police department that investigates homicides.
  • The case was handed over to the homicide squad.

Noun

1. the killing of a human being by another human being