fratricide

noun

frat·ri·cide ˈfra-trə-ˌsīd

: one that murders or kills his or her own brother or sister or an individual (such as a countryman) having a relationship like that of a brother or sister

: the act of a fratricide

fratricidal

ˌfra-trə-ˈsī-dᵊl

adjective

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The Type-1a supernovae don’t come from solitary stars sitting around waiting to die, but from a case of pure stellar fratricide. —

Popular Mechanics, 18 Apr. 2023 The story starts the same way, with a fratricide. —

Matthew Gabriele, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Apr. 2022 Rumors of Njinga committing fratricide or engaging in cannibalism are treated with similar caution. —

Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Feb. 2023 Each episode of Peacock’s mystery series depicts such horrors as fratricide and fraud in classic American locales: a Nevada casino, a Texas smokehouse, a Colorado ski lodge. —

Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2023 Viewers already watched Taffy pull off the near-perfect fratricide and, as Poker Face‘s structure tends to do, the episode travels back in time to see how Charlie spots the lies and solves the crime. —

Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Feb. 2023 The Square and indulges in casual fratricide and a spot of naked, fiery volcano-side wrestling in the recent Viking epic The Northman. —

Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 1 Sep. 2022 The maps are triggering political fratricide – pitting sitting New York House Democrats against one another. —

Fox News, 23 May 2022 Fleeing for his life, the boy vows revenge as well as to liberate his mother (Nicole Kidman), with dad having helpfully given him a pep talk about the importance of vengeance even before this act of fratricide cemented Amleth's destiny. —

Brian Lowry, CNN, 21 Apr. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fratricide.' 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

in sense 1, from Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin fratricida, from fratr-, frater brother + -cida -cide; in sense 2, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin fratricidium, from fratr-, frater + -cidium -cide

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of fratricide was in the 15th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Fratricide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fratricide. Accessed 31 May. 2023.

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