murder

1 of 2

noun

mur·​der ˈmər-dər 

plural murders

1

: the crime of unlawfully and unjustifiably killing a person

an attempted murder

specifically, law : such a crime committed under circumstances defined by statute

Under Minnesota law, third-degree murder is defined as causing the death of a person "by perpetrating an act eminently dangerous to others and evincing a depraved mind" without regard for life or intent to kill. A conviction on this count carries a prison sentence of up to 25 years. Second-degree murder, according to Minnesota law, is charged when the defendant intentionally kills someone, albeit without preparing to do so ahead of time. (Premeditation would warrant a first-degree murder charge).

—Kaylee McGhee

2

a

: something very difficult or dangerous

the traffic was murder

carrying the luggage was murder on my back

b

: something outrageous or blameworthy

getting away with murder

3

: a flock of crows

There's a reason the proper term for a flock of them is a murder of crows, and it's not because we like having them around.

—Jeffrey Kluger

murder

2 of 2

verb

murdered; murdering ˈmər-d(ə-)riŋ  ; murders

transitive verb

1

: to kill (a person) unlawfully and unjustifiably with premeditated malice

He was accused/convicted of murdering the missing hiker.

The missing hiker was found murdered.

—sometimes used figuratively

My father will murder me [=be very angry] when he finds out I dented the car.

2

: to slaughter mercilessly : slay

bombs murdered innocent civilians

3

a

: to put an end to : destroy

… the same man who, if ever he were in power, would … murder truth, freedom, and art …

—Budd Schulberg

b

: tease, torment

… murder'd this poor heart of mine …

—Shakespeare

c

: to spoil or ruin : botch, mangle

a writer who murders the English language

The band murdered that song.

d

: to defeat badly

The football team murdered their opponents 35-3.

intransitive verb

: to commit murder

a charge of armed assault with intent to murder

They murdered for money …

—Leonora LaPeter Anton

Synonyms

Noun

• nightmare
• torture
• agony
• horror
• misery
• torment

Verb

• assassinate
• slay
• execute
• kill

Choose the Right Synonym for murder

kill, slay, murder, assassinate, dispatch, execute mean to deprive of life.

kill merely states the fact of death caused by an agency in any manner.

killed in an accident

frost killed the plants

slay is a chiefly literary term implying deliberateness and violence but not necessarily motive.

slew thousands of the Philistines

murder specifically implies stealth and motive and premeditation and therefore full moral responsibility.

convicted of murdering a rival

assassinate applies to deliberate killing openly or secretly often for political motives.

terrorists assassinated the Senator

dispatch stresses quickness and directness in putting to death.

dispatched the sentry with one bullet

execute stresses putting to death as a legal penalty.

executed by lethal gas

Examples of murder in a Sentence

Noun

She was accused of murder.

the mass murder of civilians in wartime

a string of unsolved murders

Traffic is murder this time of day.

Verb

He was arrested and accused of murdering his wife.

His wife was found murdered.

a dictator who is responsible for murdering thousands of innocent people

The band murdered that song.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Hinson, now 19, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, conspiracy and a gun charge and was sentenced to 40 years in prison, the department said. —Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025

The University of Miami law school graduate was a relatively young prosecutor in 2004 when she was chosen to lead a team to prosecute Smith — who was ultimately convicted of the murders of six people, mostly associated with gang activity and drug trade. —Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2025

Verb

Four of the murdered were mutilated. —Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025

One of her Afghan neighbors was recently murdered by a gang in his bedroom, with his son watching. —Vidushi Mishti Sharma, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

partly from Middle English murther, from Old English morthor; partly from Middle English murdre, from Anglo-French, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English morthor; akin to Old High German mord murder, Latin mort-, mors death, mori to die, mortuus dead, Greek brotos mortal

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing murder

• bloody murder
• double murder
• first-degree murder
• get away with murder
• murder hornet
• murder weapon
• scream bloody murder
• scream blue murder
• second-degree murder
• self-murder
• third-degree murder

Rhymes for murder

• girder

Kids Definition

murder

1 of 2 noun

mur·​der ˈmərd-ər 

1

: the intentional and unlawful killing of a person

2

: something that is difficult or dangerous

traffic was murder this morning

murder

2 of 2 verb

murdered; murdering ˈmərd-(ə-)riŋ 

1

: to commit murder

2

: to spoil by performing or using poorly

murder a song

murder the English language

murderer

-ər-ər

noun

Legal Definition

murder

1 of 2 noun

mur·​der ˈmər-dər 

: the crime of unlawfully and unjustifiably killing another under circumstances defined by statute (as with premeditation)

especially : such a crime committed purposely, knowingly, and recklessly with extreme indifference to human life or during the course of a serious felony (as robbery or rape) compare cold blood, cooling time, homicide, manslaughter

Note: Self-defense, necessity, and lack of capacity for criminal responsibility (as because of insanity) are defenses to a charge of murder. Most state statutes and the U.S. Code divide murder into two degrees. Florida, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania currently have three degrees of murder. Some states do not assign degrees of murder.

— depraved-heart murder \ di-​ˈprāvd-​ˈhärt-​ \

: a murder that is the result of an act which is dangerous to others and shows that the perpetrator has a depraved mind and no regard for human life

Note: Depraved-heart murder is usually considered second- or third-degree murder.

— felony murder

: a murder that occurs in the commission of a serious felony (as burglary or sexual battery) compare misdemeanor-manslaughter at manslaughter

Note: Felony murder is usually considered first-degree murder. Felony murder does not require specific intent to kill, and an accessory to the felony may also be charged with the murder.

— first-degree murder

: a murder that is committed with premeditation or during the course of a serious felony (as kidnapping) or that otherwise (as because of extreme cruelty) requires the most serious punishment under the law

— second-degree murder

: a murder that is committed without premeditation but with some intent (as general or transferred intent) or other circumstances not covered by the first-degree murder statute

— third-degree murder

: a murder that is not first- or second-degree murder: as

a : a murder committed in the perpetration of a felony not listed in the first-degree murder statute

b : depraved-heart murder in this entry

murder

2 of 2 transitive verb

: to kill (a human being) unlawfully and under circumstances constituting murder

intransitive verb

: to commit murder

Etymology

Noun

partly from Old English morthor; partly from Old French murdre, of Germanic origin