matricide: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1-C2 / Very LowFormal, Legal, Academic, Literary
Quick answer
What does “matricide” mean?
The act of killing one's own mother.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of killing one's own mother.
The person who kills their own mother.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or spelling. Legal usage is consistent.
Connotations
Profound taboo, ultimate betrayal, severe criminal/psychological deviance.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties, confined to specific contexts like law, psychology, classical studies, or sensational news.
Grammar
How to Use “matricide” in a Sentence
[Subject] committed matricide.The [case/trial] involved matricide.He was convicted of the matricide of [Mother's Name].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “matricide” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- He acted matricidally, without remorse.
American English
- The crime was described as being motivated matricidally.
adjective
British English
- He showed matricidal tendencies in his writings.
American English
- The psychiatrist assessed her for matricidal ideation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Used in psychology, criminology, law, and classical literature studies.
Everyday
Extremely rare; only in news reports of extreme crimes.
Technical
A precise legal and psychiatric term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “matricide”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “matricide”
- Mispronunciation: stressing the wrong syllable (e.g., ma-TRI-cide).
- Confusing with 'patricide' (killing one's father).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it can mean the act of killing one's mother or the person who commits that act.
No, it is a low-frequency, specialized term used mainly in formal, legal, academic, or sensational contexts.
'Matricide' is specifically killing one's mother. 'Filicide' is the killing of one's own son or daughter.
Yes: patricide (father), fratricide (brother), sororicide (sister), parricide (parent), and uxoricide (wife).
The act of killing one's own mother.
Matricide is usually formal, legal, academic, literary in register.
Matricide: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmætrɪsaɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmeɪtrɪsaɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'maternal' (relating to a mother) and '-cide' (killing, as in homicide). So, 'matricide' is maternal killing.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE ULTIMATE TABOO / THE DESTRUCTION OF THE SOURCE (Mother as origin of life).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'matricide'?