What does poisoner mean?
A poisoner is, most commonly, a person who deliberately gives poison to another person, an animal, or another organism. The term is strongly associated with crime, murder, attempted murder, and the poisoning of food, medicine, or the environment. Because it identifies an agent rather than merely an act, a poisoner normally suggests intention: a person may be described as a poisoner even before it is established whether the poisoning caused death. More rarely and usually in literary or figurative language, the word can denote something that itself causes poisoning, such as a toxic plant or chemical. Even in that broader sense, the expression tends to emphasize danger and harmfulness. The word is grammatically straightforward, with the regular plural “poisoners,” but it is normally used with qualifying modifiers or in formal reports when the identity of the person responsible has been established.
nounA person who deliberately poisons a person, animal, or other organism. By extension, the term can refer to a substance or thing that causes poisoning.
- A person who deliberately poisons a person, animal, or other organism.
- A substance or thing that causes poisoning.
"The investigators suspected that the poisoner had entered the property while the household was away."
"The court concluded that the poisoner had tampered with the meal."
"Certain plants can act as natural poisoners when eaten by livestock."
The regular plural is “poisoners.” It is generally used when more than one person is identified as responsible for poisoning.
"Investigators believed that the poisoners had gained access to the kitchen."
Poison began with the innocent idea of a drink: its name ultimately comes from a word for a potion, before the drink came to mean something lethal.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does poisoner come from?
The word was formed in English by adding the agent suffix “-er” to “poison.” “Poison” entered English through Old French from Latin “potionem,” meaning a drink or potion, ultimately associated with Latin “potio,” a drink. Its meaning developed from a medicinal or potent drink to a substance capable of causing death, and “poisoner” consequently denotes someone who administers such a substance.
How poisoner is actually used
The word usually carries a strongly negative connotation and implies deliberate wrongdoing. In the less common sense of a poisonous substance or thing, it is chiefly literary or figurative.
Easily confused with poisoner
A poisoner is the person responsible for administering poison, whereas a poisoning is the harmful act or event itself.