murderess: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Literary, Archaic, Potentially Offensive
Quick answer
What does “murderess” mean?
A woman who commits murder.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A woman who commits murder.
A female who unlawfully kills another person with malice aforethought; historically used to specify gender, though modern legal and general usage increasingly prefers the gender-neutral 'murderer'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties recognize the word, but its frequency of use is similarly low in both. No significant spelling or definition differences.
Connotations
In both regions, the word can sound dated, overly dramatic, or like a deliberate stylistic choice to emphasize gender. It may be perceived as slightly more archaic in British English.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in contemporary corpora for both. 'Female murderer' or simply 'murderer' is vastly more common.
Grammar
How to Use “murderess” in a Sentence
[murderess] of [victim][murderess] who [verb phrase]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “murderess” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The tabloids sought to murderess her character long before the trial.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare, primarily in historical, literary, or gender studies contexts discussing archaic terminology.
Everyday
Very rare. Using 'murderer' is standard.
Technical
Rare in modern legal contexts; 'defendant', 'perpetrator', or 'murderer' are preferred.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “murderess”
- Using it in contemporary, neutral reporting (sounds archaic/sexist).
- Misspelling as 'murdereress'.
- Assuming it is the standard, polite term (it is not).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is grammatically correct and appears in dictionaries, but its usage is now very rare and often considered archaic or stylistically marked.
The gender-neutral term 'murderer' is the standard modern alternative. One can also say 'female murderer' if specifying gender is contextually crucial.
It is highly unlikely. Modern legal language aims for gender neutrality, using terms like 'the defendant', 'the accused', or 'the perpetrator'.
No. The '-ess' suffix (actress, waitress, murderess) is productive but declining. Many such pairs (author/authoress, poet/poetess) are now obsolete, with the base form used for all genders.
A woman who commits murder.
Murderess is usually formal, literary, archaic, potentially offensive in register.
Murderess: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɜːdərəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɝːdərəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A murderess in the making”
- “With the heart of a murderess”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Murder' + '-ess' (like 'actress' or 'waitress') = a female who murders.
Conceptual Metaphor
WOMAN AS A SOURCE OF DEATH / FEMININITY AS DANGEROUS (in archaic or sensationalist portrayals).
Practice
Quiz
Why is the word 'murderess' considered problematic in modern usage?