Definition

1. Noun:
   • A person who commits multiple murders in a short, continuous period: A spree killer is a type of serial killer whose killings happen in a rapid sequence, typically over hours or days, without a significant "cooling-off" period between the murders. The crimes are often linked by a single, continuous event or motive.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The authorities described the perpetrator as a spree killer who attacked three locations in one afternoon.
  • Unlike other serial killers, a spree killer's murders occur within a very brief timeframe.

Advanced Usage

• The term is used in criminology and law enforcement to classify a specific pattern of criminal behavior distinct from other types of multiple murderers (e.g., mass murderers, who kill many at one time and location, or traditional serial killers, who have long breaks between murders).
• It is often applied in news reporting and criminal profiling.
  • The FBI's behavioral analysis unit was called in to profile the spree killer.

Variants and Related Words

• Spree killing (n): The act or event of committing multiple murders in a brief period.
  • The town was shocked by the spree killing that took place over the weekend.
• Serial killer (n): A person who commits a series of murders, often with a psychological motive and a significant period of time between each crime. (Note: "Spree killer" is a specific sub-type of serial killer.)

Synonyms

• Rampage killer: A person who goes on a violent, uncontrolled series of attacks, often in public places. (This term is very close in meaning and is sometimes used interchangeably, though "rampage" may imply more public chaos.)
• Multiple murderer: A general term for anyone who commits more than one murder.

Related Phrases

• To go on a killing spree: This is the verbal phrase describing the action of a spree killer.
  • The gunman went on a killing spree across two counties.

Notes on Meaning

• The key distinction of a spree killer is the temporal compression of the murders. The legal and academic definitions emphasize the lack of a "cooling-off" period, which differentiates it from the classic "serial killer" pattern.
• The motives can vary but often include a desire for notoriety, revenge, or the result of a sudden psychological breakdown.

Noun

1. a serial killer whose murders occur within a brief period of time