murderer

noun

mur·​der·​er ˈmər-dər-ər 

: one who murders

especially : one who commits the crime of murder

Synonyms of murderer

• assassin
• killer

Examples of murderer in a Sentence

the murderer was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole

Recent Examples on the Web

The meeting ended—the first where the Young Lords and community people had done a fine job of exposing the real criminals and murderers in the streets of our communities. —Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026

Whether or not Carol is a murderer or something else. —Andy Andersen, Vulture, 30 Mar. 2026

Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski connected the crowd calling for Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect, to set a murderer free instead of Jesus with today’s climate, where people are witnessing horrific acts and not always speaking up. —Alie Skowronski, Miami Herald, 29 Mar. 2026

Most Popular Notorious murderer Richard Crafts, who used a chain saw to cut up his wife’s body and a wood chipper to dispose of it, is out of prison and living in a halfway house, a state Department of Correction spokeswoman said Friday. —Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing murderer

• mass murderer

Legal Definition

murderer

noun

mur·​der·​er ˈmər-dər-ər 

: a person who commits murder