infanticide

noun

in·​fan·​ti·​cide in-ˈfan-tə-ˌsīd How to pronounce infanticide (audio)
1
: the killing of an infant
2
[Late Latin infanticida, from Latin infant-, infans + -i- + -cida -cide] : one who kills an infant
infanticidal adjective

Examples of infanticide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Chimpanzee mothers often remove themselves from the group to give birth, which protects their babies from the infanticides that are sadly frequent in this species. Susana Monsó, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024 Lower level courts have argued that the law in question applies only to infanticide and not consensual abortions. Eva Epker, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2024 Only the chance discovery of the newborn by a milkman saved him from the infanticide that befell other such unwanted babies. Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Aug. 2024 In more than half of the nests, infanticide didn’t occur when a female took a new mate. Byvirginia Morell, science.org, 6 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for infanticide 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'infanticide.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin infanticidium, from Latin infant-, infans + -i- + -cidium -cide

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of infanticide was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near infanticide

Cite this Entry

“Infanticide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infanticide. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

infanticide

noun
in·​fan·​ti·​cide in-ˈfant-ə-ˌsīd How to pronounce infanticide (audio)
1
: the killing of an infant
2
: one who kills an infant
infanticidal adjective

Legal Definition

infanticide

noun
in·​fan·​ti·​cide in-ˈfan-tə-ˌsīd How to pronounce infanticide (audio)
: the killing of a newly or recently born child

More from Merriam-Webster on infanticide

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