Definition of infanticide
1 : the killing of an infant
2 [Late Latin infanticida, from Latin infant-, infans + -i- + -cida -cide] : one who kills an infant
From the M-W Editors
Recent Examples of infanticide from the Web
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To the author’s chagrin, infanticide was also borne out by research.
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She was convicted in Williamson County of infanticide and sentenced to 99 years in prison for killing Chelsea.
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The root cause of the murder of girls (gendercide), whether through feticide or infanticide, is the hideously distorted view of a girl’s value.
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Elephant psychopathology, chimpanzee infanticide and other un-animal-like behaviors are part of a growing body of research that suggests science is building toward a radical paradigm shift.
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
First Known Use: 1611
Other Legal Terms
INFANTICIDE Defined for English Language Learners
infanticide
playDefinition of infanticide for English Language Learners
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: the act of killing a baby
Medical Dictionary
Law Dictionary
infanticide
playLegal Definition of infanticide
: the killing of a newly or recently born child
Learn More about infanticide
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See words that rhyme with infanticide Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about infanticide
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