homicide

plural homicides · alternative hominicide

1. countableuncountablecrimeThe killing of one person by another, whether premeditated or unintentional.
2. countableA person who kills another.

   Homicides in general and victorious warriors in particular are often obliged to perform a variety of ceremonies for the purpose of ridding them of the dangerous ghosts of their victims.

   1911, James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, volume 11, page 195

   Synonyms: killer

3. UScountablejargonlaw enforcementA victim of homicide; a person who has been unlawfully killed by someone else.

   We don't even know the woman was a homicide. Didn't they say it was possible they both jumped?

   2003, Ellen Perry Berkeley, Keith's People, →ISBN, page 58

   2 more examples

   “She was a hippie kid. How hard would you work a case like that?” “As hard as anyone else,” said Goddard. There was an irritated note in his voice. “She was a homicide. She got what every homicide investigation gets.”

   1996, A J Holt, Watch Me

   The medical examiner was behind on autopsies and cranky, so we didn't even know if the old guy in the pool was a homicide.

   2004, Jon Talton, Dry Heat, →ISBN, page 40

   Synonyms: murder victim

4. USuncountableThe department within a police force that investigates cases of homicide.