Definition

1. Noun:
   • The crime of killing an infant: The act of intentionally causing the death of a very young child, especially one under one year old.
   • A person who kills an infant: An individual who commits the act of infanticide.

Usage and Examples

• As a crime/act:
  • The ancient law had severe penalties for infanticide.
  • The study examined the historical and social causes of infanticide.
• As a person:
  • The court convicted the mother as an infanticide.
  • Historical accounts sometimes describe the infanticide as acting under extreme duress.

Advanced Usage and Context

• Legal and Historical Context: In some historical periods and cultures, infanticide was practiced due to poverty, gender preference, or perceived disability. Modern legal systems treat it as a serious crime, often as a form of murder or manslaughter.
• In Biology (Zoology): The term can be used to describe the killing of young offspring by an adult of the same species, observed in some animal populations.
  • The researcher documented cases of infanticide among lion prides.

Variants and Related Words

• Infanticidal (adjective): Having the nature of or relating to infanticide.
  • The court heard evidence of infanticidal intent.

Synonyms

• Child murder: (General) The killing of a child.
• Filicide: (More specific) The killing of one's own son or daughter.

Notes on Meaning

• Specificity: "Infanticide" specifically refers to the killing of an , not an older child. The related term "filicide" is broader, covering the killing of one's child at any age.
• Connotation: The word carries a strong negative and moral connotation, implying a profound violation of social and natural law.

Noun

1. murdering an infant
2. a person who murders an infant