infanticide

play

noun in·fan·ti·cide \ in-ˈfan-tə-ˌsīd \

Definition of infanticide

1 :the killing of an infant

[Late Latin infanticida, from Latin infant-, infans + -i- + -cida -cide]

:one who kills an infant

—

infanticidal

play \in-ˌfan-tə-ˈsī-dᵊl\ adjective

See infanticide defined for English-language learners

Recent Examples of infanticide from the Web

A landmark report by a United Nations commission of inquiry in 2014 detailed a litany of abuses committed in North Korea over the decades, including torture, hard labor in political prison camps, forced abortions and infanticide, and brainwashing.

— anna fifield, Washington Post, "Where are the bodies buried in North Korea? Investigators try to prepare for future trials.," 18 July 2017
To the author’s chagrin, infanticide was also borne out by research.

— marilyn stasio, New York Times, "Paris Poisoners and a Pioneering Female Detective: Your True Crime Books for the Beach," 1 June 2017
She was convicted in Williamson County of infanticide and sentenced to 99 years in prison for killing Chelsea.

— ralph ellis, randi kaye and dakin andone, CNN, "Texas nurse indicted in second child's death," 26 May 2017
The root cause of the murder of girls (gendercide), whether through feticide or infanticide, is the hideously distorted view of a girl’s value.

— atlanta life, ajc, "She is safe — rescuing young girls around the world," 26 May 2017
Immature animals get eaten far more often than adults, and this makes larvicide (or infanticide) the most common form of cannibalism in the animal kingdom.

— bill schutt, Discover Magazine, "The Case for Cannibalism," 29 Mar. 2017
Practices that were once crimes, like fornication and adultery, or that are still crimes, like incest, infanticide, and rape, generally lie outside the scope of his concern.

— jill lepore, The New Yorker, "Weaponizing the Past," 27 Mar. 2017
For decades Cheney has documented infanticide in baboons in Botswana, where the behavior accounts for at least 50 percent of all infant deaths.

— divya abhat, Smithsonian, "Baboons Are Ruthless Reproducers," 28 Feb. 2017
In chimpanzees and other primates that kill each other, infanticide is the most common form of killing.

— National Geographic, "How Human Violence Stacks Up Against Other Killer Animals," 28 Sep. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'infanticide.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of infanticide

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1611

See Words from the same year

Other Legal Terms

actionable, alienable, carceral, chattel, complicity, decedent, larceny, malfeasance, modus operandi

INFANTICIDE Defined for English Language Learners

infanticide

play

noun

Definition of infanticide for English Language Learners

: the act of killing a baby

Medical Dictionary

infanticide

play

noun in·fan·ti·cide \ in-ˈfant-ə-ˌsīd \

medical Definition of infanticide

1 :the killing of an infant

2 :one who kills an infant

—

infanticidal

play \-ˌfant-ə-ˈsīd-ᵊl\ adjective

Law Dictionary

infanticide

play

noun in·fan·ti·cide \ in-ˈfan-tə-ˌsīd \

legal Definition of infanticide

:the killing of a newly or recently born child

Learn More about infanticide

See words that rhyme with infanticide Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about infanticide

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up infanticide? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

infanticide

Definition of infanticide

infanticidal

Explore M-W

Recent Examples of infanticide from the Web

Origin and Etymology of infanticide

Other Legal Terms

INFANTICIDE Defined for English Language Learners

infanticide

Definition of infanticide for English Language Learners

Medical Dictionary

infanticide

medical Definition of infanticide

infanticidal

Law Dictionary

infanticide

legal Definition of infanticide

Learn More about infanticide

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Trending: Kim Jong Un: Trump a 'Dotard'

Let's Talk 'Tea'

These Are Fighting Words

Merriam-Webster's New Words Quiz—Fall 2017 Edition!

Words of the Year: 1066