Murder: Definition, Legal Usage & Examples

Meaning 1：unlawful killing (murder)

murder 🔊

/ˈmɜːdə(r)/

It means when someone unlawfully and intentionally kills another person, which is the most serious crime.

Murder crime scene investigation with detective examining evidence under police tape

unlawful killing 🔊

➕

/ʌnˈlɔːfəl ˈkɪlɪŋ/

The crime of intentionally and illegally causing the death of another person.

📁 Category：Laws & Regulations 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English 'morðor', meaning 'secret killing', from Proto-Germanic '*murþrą'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a 'murmur' of dread about a 'death' – that's the feeling around a MURDER.

📖 Example

In the detective novel, a single fingerprint was the key clue to solving the murder. 🔊 Within the detective story, one fingerprint proved to be the crucial piece of evidence that unlocked the mystery of the unlawful killing.

🔗 Collocations

commit murder – to carry out the act of killing someone unlawfully

murder case – a legal investigation and trial concerning a killing

murder weapon – the object used to kill the victim

🔄 Synonyms

homicide (n.) – The general act of one human killing another; often used in legal contexts.

manslaughter (n.) – The unlawful killing of a human without malice aforethought (less intent than murder).

assassination (n.) – The murder of a prominent person, often for political reasons.

🚫 Antonyms

life (n.) – The opposite state of existence; the condition of being alive.

🌱 Derivatives

murderer (n.) – A person who commits murder.

murderous (adj.) – Capable of, intending, or involving murder; very fierce or violent.

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'murder' originates from Old English 'morðor', which implied a secret or unlawful killing. It is a foundational term in English common law, distinguishing the most severe category of criminal homicide, which requires 'malice aforethought'. Its precise legal definition is crucial in courtrooms.