What does murder mean?
Murder is a word with both a precise legal meaning and a powerful emotional force. As a noun, it refers to the intentional and unlawful killing of another person, distinguishing it from the broader term homicide and from manslaughter, which generally involves less intentionality. As a verb, murder can describe a deliberate killing and may also be used figuratively when something is destroyed or when someone's chances are ruined. The term is commonly encountered in legal reporting, criminal investigations, historical accounts, and discussions of literature and history. Its associations with deliberate cruelty and criminal responsibility make it much more specific and serious than the neutral word “killing.” For precise legal classification, however, terminology and the circumstances of the case matter, since legal definitions can vary by jurisdiction.
The intentional and unlawful killing of another person.
"He was charged with murder after the investigation found evidence of a deliberate attack."
This is a legal and generally serious term. The exact legal meaning can depend on the jurisdiction and the facts of the case.
To kill someone deliberately, especially in a brutal or criminal manner; figuratively, to destroy or ruin something completely.
"The report accused the officer of murdering the suspect, a claim that was later disproved."
The figurative use, as in “murder a song,” is informal and hyperbolic rather than literal.
The plural is used for separate acts or instances of intentional unlawful killing.
"The series examines several unsolved murders that occurred in the town during the 1970s."
Murder is one of the clearest distinctions in criminal law: the central question is not only what happened, but what the accused intended.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
Related word forms
How murder is actually used
The noun has a formal legal meaning, while the verb can be used figuratively in informal contexts to mean to destroy someone's chances or prospects. It is one of the strongest and most emotionally charged words for an unlawful killing.
Easily confused with murder
Murder is an intentional unlawful killing, whereas manslaughter generally refers to an unlawful killing that is not considered to have the degree of intent associated with murder.
Homicide is the broad legal or general term for the killing of another person, while murder is a specific and more serious category of intentional killing.