List of types of murder
Encyclopedia
This is a list of types of killing. In the English language
, terms for types of killing often end in the suffix
-cide.
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, terms for types of killing often end in the suffix
Suffix
In linguistics, a suffix is an affix which is placed after the stem of a word. Common examples are case endings, which indicate the grammatical case of nouns or adjectives, and verb endings, which form the conjugation of verbs...
-cide.
Killing of self
- SuicideSuicideSuicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
– intentional killing of self.- Autocide – suicide by automobile.
- Medicide – a suicide accomplished with the aid of a physician
- Self-immolationSelf-immolationSelf-immolation refers to setting oneself on fire, often as a form of protest or for the purposes of martyrdom or suicide. It has centuries-long traditions in some cultures, while in modern times it has become a type of radical political protest...
– suicide by setting oneself on fire, a form of extreme protest. - Suicide by copSuicide by copSuicide by cop is a suicide method in which a suicidal individual deliberately acts in a threatening way, with the goal of provoking a lethal response from a law enforcement officer or other armed individual, such as being shot to death....
– a suicide by acting threatening and inducing law enforcement personnel to shoot one to death.
Killing of family
- Aborticide – the act of killing a fetus in the womb
- FamilicideFamilicideA familicide is a type of murder or murder-suicide in which at least one spouse and one or more children are killed; or in which a parent or parents and possibly other relatives such as siblings and grandparents are killed. In some cases all of the family members' lives are taken...
- is a multiple-victim homicide where a killer's spouse and children are slain. - FeticideFeticideFeticide is an act that causes the death of a fetus. In a legal context, "fetal homicide" or "child destruction" refers to the deliberate or incidental killing of a fetus due to a criminal human act, such as a blow to the abdomen of a pregnant woman...
(or foeticide) - the act of killing a fetus in the uterus or causing an abortion - FilicideFilicideFilicide is the deliberate act of a parent killing his or her own son or daughter. The word filicide derives from the Latin words filius meaning "son" or filia meaning daughter and the suffix -cide meaning to kill, murder, or cause death...
– the act of a parent killing his or her son or daughter. - FratricideFratricideFratricide is the act of a person killing his or her brother....
– the act of killing a brother, also in military context death by friendly fire. - Geronticide – the abandonment of the elderly to die, commit suicide or be killed. See also Senicide.
- Honor-killing – the act of killing a family member who has or has perceived to have brought disgrace to the family.
- InfanticideInfanticideInfanticide or infant homicide is the killing of a human infant. Neonaticide, a killing within 24 hours of a baby's birth, is most commonly done by the mother.In many past societies, certain forms of infanticide were considered permissible...
– the act of killing a child within the first year of its life. - MariticideMariticideMariticide literally means the murder of one's married partner, but has become most associated with the murder of a husband by his wife, as the reverse is given the name uxoricide.In England the punishment until 1790 was to be strangled and burnt at the stake.-Historical:* Laodice I allegedly...
- the act of killing one's spouse, especially the murder of a husband by his wife. - MatricideMatricideMatricide is the act of killing one's mother. As for any type of killing, motives can vary significantly.- Known or suspected matricides :* Amastris, queen of Heraclea, was drowned by her two sons in 284 BC....
– the act of killing one's mother. - NeonaticideNeonaticideNeonaticide is the killing of a newborn infant less than 24 hours old. It can be divided into criminal neonaticide, which is usually by a mother under severe psychological stress, and customary neonaticide, a practice used in certain cultures at certain times to limit the population.Neonaticide is...
- the act of killing an infant within the first twenty-four hours or month (varies by individual and jurisdiction) of its life. - ParricideParricideParricide is defined as:*the act of murdering one's father , mother or other close relative, but usually not children ....
– (also Parenticide) the killing of one's mother or father or other close relative. - PatricidePatricidePatricide is the act of killing one's father, or a person who kills his or her father. The word patricide derives from the Latin word pater and the Latin suffix -cida...
– the act of killing of one's father. - ProlicideProlicideProlicide is the act of killing one's own offspring. It may refer to* Filicide* Feticide-See also:* Child murder* Infanticide* Suicide, the killing of one's self* Avunculicide, the killing of one's uncle* Fratricide, the killing of one's brother...
– the act of killing one's own children. - SenicideSenicideSenicide or geronticide is the abandonment to death, suicide or killing of the elderly.- History :Societal views and legal repercussions have varied greatly in regards to senicide....
– the killing of one's elderly family members when they can no longer work or become a burden. - SororicideSororicideSororicide is the act of killing one's own sister.There are a number of examples of sororicide and fratricide in adolescents, even pre-adolescents, where sibling rivalry and resulting physical aggression can get out of hand and lead to the death of one of them, particularly...
– the act of killing one's sister. - UxoricideUxoricideUxoricide is murder of one's wife. It can refer to the act itself or the man who carries it out.- Known or suspected uxoricides:...
– the act of killing one's wife.
Killing of others
- Amicicide – the act of killing a friend.
- Androcide - the systematic killing of men.
- Capital punishmentCapital punishmentCapital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
– the killing of a human being for odious crimes. - EcocideEcocideThe neologism ecocide can be used to refer to any large-scale destruction of the natural environment or over-consumption of critical non-renewable resources...
- the destruction of the natural environment by such activity as war, overexploitation of resources, or pollution - EuthanasiaEuthanasiaEuthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
(also mercy killing) – the killing of a human for compassionate reasons i.e. significant injury or disease. - FemicideFemicideFemicide was first used in England in 1801 to signify "the killing of a woman." In 1848, this term was published in Wharton's Law Lexicon, suggesting that it had become a prosecutable offense. Another term used is feminicide.-First feminist definition:...
(also Gynecide, Gynaecide, or Gynocide) – the systematic killing of women - GendercideGendercideGendercide is a neologism that refers to the systematic killing of members of a specific sex.-Gendercide:Gendercide is gender-selective mass killing. The term was first used by Mary Anne Warren in her 1985 book, Gendercide: The Implications of Sex Selection...
- the systematic killing of members of a specific sex, either males or females - GenocideGenocideGenocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
– the systematic extermination of an entire national, racial, religious, or ethnic group. - HomicideHomicideHomicide refers to the act of a human killing another human. Murder, for example, is a type of homicide. It can also describe a person who has committed such an act, though this use is rare in modern English...
– the act of killing of a person - Human sacrificeHuman sacrificeHuman sacrifice is the act of killing one or more human beings as part of a religious ritual . Its typology closely parallels the various practices of ritual slaughter of animals and of religious sacrifice in general. Human sacrifice has been practised in various cultures throughout history...
– the killing of a human for religious reasons - Omnicide – the act of killing all humans, to create intentional extinction of the human species.
- Populicide – the slaughter of the people.
- XenocideXenocideXenocide is the third novel in the Ender's Game series of books by Orson Scott Card. It was nominated for both the Hugo and Locus Awards for Best Novel in 1992...
– the act of killing an entire alien species
Killing of superiors
- DeicideDeicideDeicide is the killing of a god. The term deicide was coined in the 17th century from medieval Latin *deicidium, from de-us "god" and -cidium "cutting, killing")...
– the act of killing a god or divine being - Dominicide – the act of killing one's master.
- Episcopicide – the act of killing a bishop.
- Giganticide – the act of killing a giant.
- RegicideRegicideThe broad definition of regicide is the deliberate killing of a monarch, or the person responsible for the killing of a monarch. In a narrower sense, in the British tradition, it refers to the judicial execution of a king after a trial...
– the act of killing a king. - TyrannicideTyrannicideTyrannicide literally means the killing of a tyrant, or one who has committed the act. Typically, the term is taken to mean the killing or assassination of tyrants for the common good. The term "tyrannicide" does not apply to tyrants killed in battle or killed by an enemy in an armed conflict...
– the act of killing a tyrant. - Vaticide – the act of killing a prophet.
Killing of intangibles
- Chronocide – the killing or wasting of time
- Famacide – the killing of another's reputation, a slander.
- Liberticide – the destruction of liberties.
- UrbicideUrbicideUrbicide is a term which literally translates as "violence against the city." The term was first coined by the author Michael Moorcock in 1963 and later used by critics of 1960s urban restructuring in the US...
- the destruction of a city or the stifling of an urbanization.
Killing of animals, disease, and pests
- AlgaecideAlgaecideAn algaecide or algicide is a substance used for killing and preventing the growth of algae.-Natural algicides:Barley straw, in England, is placed in mesh bags and floated in fish ponds or water gardens to help reduce algal growth without harming pond plants and animals...
– a chemical agent that kills algae - Acaricide – a chemical agent that kills mites.
- Avacide – a chemical agent that kills birds
- Bactericide – a chemical agent that kills bacteria.
- BiocideBiocideA biocide is a chemical substance or microorganism which can deter, render harmless, or exert a controlling effect on any harmful organism by chemical or biological means. Biocides are commonly used in medicine, agriculture, forestry, and industry...
- a chemical agent that kills a broad spectrum of living organisms. - Cervicide – the killing of deer.
- Ceticide – the killing of whales.
- Culicide – a chemical agent that kills mosquitos.
- Felicide – the killing of cats
- FungicideFungicideFungicides are chemical compounds or biological organisms used to kill or inhibit fungi or fungal spores. Fungi can cause serious damage in agriculture, resulting in critical losses of yield, quality and profit. Fungicides are used both in agriculture and to fight fungal infections in animals...
- chemical agents or biological organisms used to kill or inhibit fungi or fungal spores. - Germicide - an agent that kills germs, especially pathogenic microorganisms; a disinfectant
- Gonocide (also Gonococcicide) – an agent that kills the bacterium causing gonorrhea
- HerbicideHerbicideHerbicides, also commonly known as weedkillers, are pesticides used to kill unwanted plants. Selective herbicides kill specific targets while leaving the desired crop relatively unharmed. Some of these act by interfering with the growth of the weed and are often synthetic "imitations" of plant...
- an agent that kills unwanted plants, a weed killer. - InsecticideInsecticideAn insecticide is a pesticide used against insects. They include ovicides and larvicides used against the eggs and larvae of insects respectively. Insecticides are used in agriculture, medicine, industry and the household. The use of insecticides is believed to be one of the major factors behind...
– an agent that kills unwanted insects. - LarvicideLarvicideA larvicide is an insecticide that is specifically targeted against the larval life stage of an insect. Their most common use is against mosquitoes...
(also Larvacide) - an insecticide targeted against the larval life stage of an insect. - Lupicide – The killing of wolves.
- MicrobicideMicrobicideMicrobicides for sexually transmitted diseases, are pharmacologic agents and chemical substances that are capable of killing or destroying certain microorganisms that commonly cause human infection, for example the human immunodeficiency virus....
– an agent used to kill or reduce the infectivity of microorganisms. - Muscicide – an agent that kills fleas.
- Nemacide (also Nematicide, Nematocide) – a chemical to eradicate or kill nematodes.
- Ovacide – an agent that kills eggs of an organism particular a pest i.e. lice eggs.
- Parasiticide – a general term to describe an agent used to destroy parasites.
- PediculicidePediculicidePediculicides are substances used to treat lice .-Chemical treatments:Today, insecticides used for the treatment of head lice include organochlorines , organophosphates , carbamates , pyrethrins , and pyrethroids .The only agents approved by the FDA for treatment of...
– an agent that kills head lice. - PesticidePesticidePesticides are substances or mixture of substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling or mitigating any pest.A pesticide may be a chemical unicycle, biological agent , antimicrobial, disinfectant or device used against any pest...
– a general term to describe an agent used to destroy or repelled an unwanted pest. . - Pulicicide (also Pulicide) – an agent that kills fleas.
- Raticide – an agent for killing rats.
- Scabicide – a chemical agent for killing scabies.
- SpermicideSpermicideSpermicide is a contraceptive substance that eradicates sperm, inserted vaginally prior to intercourse to prevent pregnancy. As a contraceptive, spermicide may be used alone. However, the pregnancy rate experienced by couples using only spermicide is higher than that of couples using other methods...
– a contraceptive agent to render sperm inert and prevent fertilization. - Tauricide – the killing of bulls or steers.
- Teniacide (Also taeniacide, tenicide )– a chemical agent that kills tape worms.
- Vermicide - an agent used to kill parasitic intestinal worms
- VespacideVespacideA vespacide is a substance that kills wasps. Like most insecticides, these compounds usually contain a chemical with a cyclopropane structure....
– a chemical agent that kills wasps. - Vulpicide (also Vulpecide)- the killing of a fox by methods other than by hunting it with hounds.
- Virucide (also Viricide) - an agent capable of destroying or inhibiting viruses