parricide: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Literary, Legal
Quick answer
What does “parricide” mean?
The act of killing one's father, mother, or other close relative.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of killing one's father, mother, or other close relative.
The act of killing a person considered to be a father figure, such as a ruler or a founder; also, a person who commits such a killing.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in definition or usage. Both use the term in formal/legal contexts.
Connotations
Equally strong connotations of profound moral and social taboo in both varieties.
Frequency
Extremely low-frequency word in both, slightly more likely to be encountered in British historical or literary texts.
Grammar
How to Use “parricide” in a Sentence
[Subject] committed parricide.The parricide of [Victim] shocked the nation.He was convicted for the parricide.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “parricide” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The historical account suggested the prince had parricided his father.
- (Note: The verb form 'parricide' is archaic; 'commit parricide' is standard.)
American English
- (The verb form is virtually obsolete in modern AmE.)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form derived from 'parricide'.)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form derived from 'parricide'.)
adjective
British English
- The parricidal son showed no remorse in court.
- She studied the parricidal impulses in classical mythology.
American English
- The defendant's parricidal intent was proven by the prosecution.
- A parricidal act is considered among the most heinous crimes.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in historical, literary, legal, psychological, and criminology studies.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would be replaced by phrases like 'killed his parent(s)'.
Technical
A precise legal term in some jurisdictions; used in forensic psychology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “parricide”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “parricide”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “parricide”
- Misspelling as 'paracide' or 'pariside'.
- Using it to mean any murder (it's specifically familial).
- Incorrect pronunciation with stress on the last syllable.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Parricide' is the general term for killing a close relative, especially a parent. 'Patricide' specifically means killing one's father. 'Matricide' specifically means killing one's mother.
No, it is a very low-frequency, formal word used primarily in legal, historical, literary, or academic contexts. In everyday speech, people say 'killed his father/mother/parents'.
Yes, in modern legal and general usage, 'parricide' encompasses the killing of either parent or a close relative. For precision, 'matricide' is used for mother-killing.
The verb form is archaic and almost never used in contemporary English. The standard phrasing is 'to commit parricide'.
The act of killing one's father, mother, or other close relative.
Parricide is usually formal, literary, legal in register.
Parricide: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpær.ɪ.saɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈper.ə.saɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to this word]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'PARent' + 'suICIDE' (but killing a parent, not oneself). A 'PARent' you decide to 'RID' yourself of becomes a 'parricide'.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL (as the destruction of the source/origin of one's life and identity).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate definition of 'parricide'?