infanticide

noun

in·​fan·​ti·​cide in-ˈfan-tə-ˌsīd 

1

: the killing of an infant

2

[Late Latin infanticida, from Latin infant-, infans + -i- + -cida -cide] : one who kills an infant

infanticidal

in-ˌfan-tə-ˈsī-dᵊl 

adjective

Examples of infanticide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In a highly unusual decision, the state's highest criminal court has exonerated Carmen Meija of the infanticide that resulted in her conviction from a Travis County jury in 2005. —Tony Plohetski, Austin American Statesman, 23 Jan. 2026

In years of abundance, there were surges in births; in years of famine, infanticides. —Ben Taub, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported that a police spokesperson said at a press conference that the woman could face a charge of infanticide. —Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025

Fatal fires, mass shootings, serial killings, decapitation, infanticide, bus crashes, wrong-way accidents and — more than once — children murdered by dogs. —Henrick Karoliszyn, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for infanticide

• acetamide
• acetonide
• acidified
• antimonide
• beatified
• benzaldehyde
• borohydride
• chalcogenide
• commodified
• decalcified
• declassified
• disaccharide

Medical Definition

infanticide

noun

in·​fan·​ti·​cide in-ˈfant-ə-ˌsīd 

1

: the killing of an infant

2

: one who kills an infant

infanticidal

-ˌfant-ə-ˈsīd-ᵊl 

adjective

Legal Definition

infanticide

noun

in·​fan·​ti·​cide in-ˈfan-tə-ˌsīd 

: the killing of a newly or recently born child