serial killer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Journalistic, Academic (Criminology/Psychology), True Crime
Quick answer
What does “serial killer” mean?
A person who murders three or more people over a period of time, with a psychological cooling-off period between the murders.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A person who murders three or more people over a period of time, with a psychological cooling-off period between the murders.
A person who commits a series of murders, often with a characteristic, predictable pattern or signature related to the victims, method, or motive, typically driven by psychological gratification rather than material gain.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The concept and term are identical in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical strong negative connotations. Associated with high-profile criminal cases and media sensationalism in both cultures.
Frequency
Equally common in news media and academic discourse in both the UK and US.
Grammar
How to Use “serial killer” in a Sentence
[serial killer] + [verb: was arrested, operated, claimed, targeted][detectives/police] + [verb: hunted, profiled] + [serial killer][to be/be labelled] + [a/an] + [serial killer]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “serial killer” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The press claimed the man had been serial-killing for a decade.
- The detective specialised in serial-killer cases.
American English
- Authorities feared the unsub was serial killing across state lines.
- The FBI unit focuses on serial-killer behavior.
adverb
British English
- The murders were committed serially, over several years.
- He acted serially, targeting similar victims.
American English
- The killer operated serially along the highway.
- The crimes were linked serially by DNA evidence.
adjective
British English
- The serial-killer documentary was chilling.
- He had a serial-killer fascination from a young age.
American English
- The town was gripped by serial-killer panic.
- She studied serial-killer psychology in college.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not applicable; highly inappropriate in standard business contexts.
Academic
Used in criminology, psychology, sociology, and forensic science to classify and study a specific type of criminal behaviour.
Everyday
Used in news discussions, true crime entertainment, and general conversation about notorious criminals.
Technical
A clinical and legal classification in forensic psychology and law enforcement for investigative profiling.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “serial killer”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “serial killer”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “serial killer”
- Using 'serial killer' to describe a one-time murderer or a shooter in a single incident (mass shooter).
- Misspelling as 'cereal killer' (homophone error).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A serial killer commits multiple murders over an extended period with emotional cooling-off phases in between. A mass murderer kills multiple people in a single incident or location within a short timeframe.
It is primarily a criminological and psychological classification, not a specific legal charge. The legal charges would be for individual murders.
This threshold, established by the FBI and other agencies, helps distinguish a pattern of behaviour from two unrelated murders and indicates a compulsion.
It is sometimes used hyperbolically in informal contexts (e.g., 'a serial killer of projects'), but this is generally considered poor taste due to the term's severe real-world associations.
A person who murders three or more people over a period of time, with a psychological cooling-off period between the murders.
Serial killer is usually formal, journalistic, academic (criminology/psychology), true crime in register.
Serial killer: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsɪə.ri.əl ˈkɪl.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɪr.i.əl ˈkɪl.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(Like) something out of a serial killer's playbook”
- “To have a serial killer's stare (hyperbolic)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'SERIAL' like a TV series with multiple episodes; a 'serial killer' commits multiple 'episodes' of murder over time.
Conceptual Metaphor
HUMAN IS A PREDATOR (The killer is often metaphorically described as 'stalking prey', 'hunting', or being a 'monster').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a key defining feature of a 'serial killer'?