murderer
B2Formal/Neutral, with strong negative connotation.
Definition
Meaning
A person who kills another person intentionally and unlawfully.
A person or thing responsible for the ruin, destruction, or termination of something; can be used figuratively (e.g., a killer of joy, a dream).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies a premeditated or intentional act. In legal contexts, distinctions exist (e.g., first-degree, second-degree murderer). The noun form 'murder' describes the act; 'murderer' describes the agent. Not used for accidental or justified killings.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Colloquial terms vary (e.g., 'killer' is universal). Legal terminology varies by jurisdiction, but the word 'murderer' is used in both.
Connotations
Strongly pejorative and criminal in both varieties. Used with equal force.
Frequency
Comparably frequent. In informal contexts, 'killer' may be slightly more common in casual speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
murderer of [victim/group]murderer from [location]murderer who [clause describing action]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A murderer's row (US: an intimidating lineup of skilled people)”
- “Smile like a murderer (to have an unsettling, false smile)”
- “Thick as murderers (colloquial: very close accomplices)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Figurative use: 'That policy was a project murderer.'
Academic
Used in legal, criminological, historical, and literary studies.
Everyday
Used in news reports, crime discussions, and fiction. Strong word used with care.
Technical
Specific legal term with defined criteria (vs. manslaughter).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The article seemed to murderer his reputation.
- He absolutely murdered that song at karaoke.
American English
- The comedian murdered that bit last night.
- They're going to murderer us in the sales quarter.
adverb
British English
- He stared murderously at his rival.
- The heat was murderously intense.
American English
- She smiled murderously.
- The team played murderously well.
adjective
British English
- He had a murderer look in his eyes.
- The board's decision had murderer consequences.
American English
- That was a murderer workout.
- She gave him a murderer stare.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The police are looking for the murderer.
- In the story, the murderer is caught.
- The convicted murderer was sent to prison for life.
- She read a book about a famous serial murderer.
- The alleged murderer pleaded not guilty at the trial.
- The documentary examined the psyche of a mass murderer.
- The barrister's cross-examination utterly destroyed the credibility of the alleged murderer.
- His policies have been characterised as the murderer of the middle class.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'MURDER' + '-ER' (a person who does the action). A 'murderer' is the person who commits a murder.
Conceptual Metaphor
EVIL IS A FORCE / A PERSON IS A CRIME (The person becomes defined by their worst act).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not to be confused with 'убийца' (which is correct) or 'душегуб' (archaic/folk). Avoid calquing structure from 'преступник' (criminal) - 'murderer' is more specific.
- The word 'murder' itself is not used for animals; use 'kill' or 'slaughter'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'murderor'.
- Confusing 'murderer' (person) with 'murder' (act).
- Using for non-human contexts (e.g., 'the hurricane was a murderer').
- Overusing in figurative speech, which can sound insensitive.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'murderer' be LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Murderer' specifically implies the unlawful, premeditated killing of a person. 'Killer' is broader and can refer to someone who kills anything (animals, plants), or kills legally (soldier, executioner), or accidentally.
Yes, 'murderer' is gender-neutral. The specifically female term 'murderess' is now archaic and rarely used.
Yes, the verb is 'to murder'. The noun 'murderer' is the agent noun derived from this verb (one who murders).
In law, 'murder' requires 'malice aforethought' (intent). 'Manslaughter' is unlawful killing without this premeditation (e.g., in the heat of passion, by negligence). The term 'manslaughterer' is virtually never used; one would say 'convicted of manslaughter'.
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