murder

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

Synonyms of murder

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

Examples of murder in a Sentence

She was accused of murder.

the mass murder of civilians in wartime

a string of unsolved murders

Traffic is murder this time of day.

Recent Examples on the Web

The New Hampshire Supreme Court on Thursday overturned the murder conviction of a man who was accused of killing his 5-year-old daughter and moving her body around for months before disposing of it. —Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 11 June 2026

White, who was taken into custody by federal agents, was later found incompetent to stand trial on hijacking and murder charges. —Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026

Dwight Rhone, 74, was initially charged in December 2024 with one count of murder in connection with the 2023 killing of Bernardo Moreno, 54, according to a San Diego County District Attorney’s Office news release. —Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2026

The New Hampshire Supreme Court has overturned the murder conviction of Adam Montgomery in the death of his daughter Harmony. —Matt Schooley, CBS News, 11 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

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

Phrases Containing murder

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

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