fratricide

noun

frat·ri·cide | \ ˈfra-trə-ˌsīd

Definition of fratricide

1 : 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

2 : the act of a fratricide

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Examples of fratricide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web 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 Did the law of fratricide exist in the Ottoman Empire? — Alice Burton, Vulture, 23 Nov. 2021 At the time of the fratricide in Absalom, Absalom!, the two brothers have just returned from fighting for the Confederacy, though their experiences in battle are never related in any detail. — Benjamin Nugent, Harper's Magazine, 27 Apr. 2021 Republican insiders acknowledge the trend is ominous and worry GOP fratricide could exacerbate it. — David M. Drucker, Washington Examiner, 22 Jan. 2021 Or, for that matter, stories of mass Jewish fratricide. — David Harsanyi, National Review, 9 Dec. 2020 The horror of fratricide is merely the price of admission to the family drama Penn here relates. — Steve Donoghue, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Dec. 2020 The starfighters use their maneuverability to fly between the capital ships of the Final Order and keep their guns silent for fear of committing fratricide. — Angry Staff Officer, Wired, 24 Dec. 2019 See More

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

History and Etymology for fratricide

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

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Dictionary Entries Near fratricide

frat party

fratricide

fratry

Statistics for fratricide

Cite this Entry

“Fratricide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fratricide. Accessed 14 Aug. 2022.

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More Definitions for fratricide

fratricide

noun

frat·ri·cide | \ ˈfra-trə-ˌsīd

Legal Definition of fratricide

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

2 : the act of a fratricide