Explanation at your level:
Murder is a very bad crime. It means one person kills another person on purpose. It is against the law. Police look for the person who did it. You should not use this word in happy conversations.
When someone decides to end another person's life, that is murder. It is a serious crime. The police investigate these cases to find out who is responsible. If someone is found guilty, they go to prison.
Murder refers to the illegal, intentional killing of a human being. It is a major legal term. In news reports, you will often hear about 'murder investigations' or 'murder trials.' It is important to remember that this word carries a very heavy and serious tone.
In legal contexts, murder is distinguished by 'malice aforethought,' meaning the killer planned the act. Outside of the law, people sometimes use the word figuratively, like saying 'the heat today is murder,' which means the heat is unbearable. However, always be careful with this usage as it can sound insensitive.
The term murder is deeply embedded in our legal and cultural lexicon. Beyond its literal definition, it often appears in literature and true-crime media. The nuance lies in the intent; legally, there is a vast difference between murder, manslaughter, and homicide. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for anyone studying law or criminology in English.
Etymologically, murder traces back to the Proto-Germanic murthran. Its evolution reflects the development of criminal justice systems that sought to quantify the 'evil' of an act by the level of premeditation. In literary usage, the word is often used to evoke themes of betrayal, moral decay, or the loss of innocence. It remains one of the most powerful and emotive nouns in the English language, carrying significant weight in both historical and contemporary discourse.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Murder is an illegal, intentional killing.
- It is a very serious crime.
- It requires legal investigation.
- The word should be used with caution.
When we talk about murder, we are referring to a very serious and illegal act. It is not just any death; it specifically involves the intentional killing of another person.
Because it is a major crime, it is treated with the utmost gravity by society and the law. When a murder occurs, police detectives work hard to gather evidence, and the legal system steps in to ensure justice is served.
It is important to distinguish this from accidental death or self-defense. In English, we use this word carefully because of its heavy emotional and legal weight. It is not a word used lightly in casual daily conversation.
The word murder has a deep history. It comes from the Old English word morthor, which meant 'secret killing' or 'death.' This evolved from Proto-Germanic roots that are also related to the Latin word mort-, which means 'death' (the same root we see in 'mortal').
Historically, the distinction between murder and manslaughter became very important in medieval law. While 'murder' implied a secret or premeditated act, other forms of killing were treated differently.
Over centuries, the spelling shifted from the Middle English mordre to the modern murder. It is fascinating how language tracks our societal need to categorize different types of violence and hold people accountable for their actions.
In English, murder is almost exclusively used in legal, journalistic, or serious narrative contexts. You will often hear phrases like commit murder or solve a murder.
Because of its severity, it is rarely used in casual slang, except in hyperbolic expressions like 'that test was murder' (meaning it was extremely difficult). However, even then, native speakers know that this is figurative.
When speaking about the crime, it is standard to use first-degree murder or second-degree murder to specify the level of intent. Using the word correctly helps maintain the serious tone required by the subject matter.
- Get away with murder: To do something wrong without being punished. Example: 'He always gets away with murder at school.'
- Murder someone's reputation: To destroy someone's public image. Example: 'The article was designed to murder his reputation.'
- Blue murder: To scream or protest loudly. Example: 'He screamed blue murder when he saw the bill.'
- Murder on the dance floor: A figurative way to say someone is dancing very well or intensely. Example: 'She was murder on the dance floor last night.'
- Cold-blooded murder: A killing done without any emotion or mercy. Example: 'The detective called it a cold-blooded murder.'
Murder is a countable noun, though it is often used in a general sense. You can say 'a murder' or 'two murders'.
The pronunciation is /ˈmɜːrdər/ in US English and /ˈmɜːdə/ in UK English. The stress is on the first syllable. It rhymes with words like herder, furred her, and slurder (a rare term).
Grammatically, it often functions as the object of verbs like commit, investigate, or witness. When used as a verb, it follows the pattern: 'Subject + murder + object' (e.g., 'He murdered his rival').
Fun Fact
It shares a root with 'mortal'.
Pronunciation Guide
The 'r' at the end is silent.
The 'r' is pronounced clearly.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing it like 'murd-er' with a hard d
- Ignoring the 'r' in US English
- Misplacing the stress
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Needs care
Needs care
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Passive Voice
He was charged with murder.
Countable Nouns
Two murders occurred.
Verb Collocations
Commit a crime.
Examples by Level
The police investigate a murder.
Police look into the crime.
Simple present.
It is a crime.
It is illegal.
Subject-verb agreement.
He is in jail.
He is locked up.
Prepositional phrase.
Do not kill.
Stop violence.
Imperative.
The law is strict.
Rules are firm.
Adjective usage.
Murder is bad.
It is wrong.
Simple sentence.
They found the truth.
They know what happened.
Past simple.
He was caught.
Police found him.
Passive voice.
The murder happened last night.
Police are investigating the murder.
He was charged with murder.
Murder is a serious crime.
The witness saw the murder.
She wrote a book about a murder.
The town was shocked by the murder.
Murder is illegal everywhere.
The detective solved the murder case.
He was sentenced for first-degree murder.
The evidence suggests a cold-blooded murder.
There was a string of murders in the city.
She was a witness to the murder.
The motive for the murder is unclear.
The trial for the murder begins today.
He confessed to the murder.
The mystery novel centers on a brutal murder.
He was acquitted of the murder charge.
The police are treating the death as a murder.
The community remains haunted by the unsolved murder.
She gave testimony regarding the murder.
The prosecutor proved it was premeditated murder.
The documentary explores the history of the murder.
He was convicted of attempted murder.
The forensic report confirmed the cause of death was murder.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder.
The case was categorized as a high-profile murder investigation.
The chilling details of the murder shocked the nation.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder.
The legal definition of murder varies by jurisdiction.
The narrative explores the psychological aftermath of the murder.
The judge presided over the murder trial with impartiality.
The act was deemed a heinous murder, devoid of any mitigating factors.
The jurisprudence surrounding murder has evolved significantly over centuries.
The author masterfully weaves the murder into the fabric of the plot.
The trial exposed the systemic failures that allowed the murder to occur.
He was exonerated after new evidence surfaced regarding the murder.
The chilling nature of the murder left the town in a state of perpetual fear.
The defense attorney argued against the premeditation element of the murder.
The historical account provides a grim perspective on the murder.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"get away with murder"
to do something wrong without punishment
He is spoiled and gets away with murder.
casual"scream blue murder"
to protest loudly
She screamed blue murder when she lost.
casual"cold-blooded murder"
killing without emotion
It was a cold-blooded murder.
formal"murder someone's reputation"
to ruin someone's image
The scandal murdered his reputation.
neutral"a murder mystery"
a story about a crime
I love reading a good murder mystery.
neutral"murder on the dance floor"
dancing very well
She was murder on the dance floor.
slangEasily Confused
Both involve killing.
Manslaughter lacks intent.
He was charged with manslaughter, not murder.
Both are legal terms.
Homicide is the act; murder is the crime.
The homicide rate is high.
Both involve killing.
Assassination is political.
The assassination of the leader.
Both relate to dying.
Death is natural or accidental.
His death was natural.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + commit + murder
He committed murder.
Subject + be + charged with + murder
He was charged with murder.
Subject + investigate + a + murder
They investigated a murder.
Subject + witness + a + murder
She witnessed a murder.
Subject + confess to + murder
He confessed to murder.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
5
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Murder requires intent.
Murder is killing another.
Murder is often better as a noun.
Murder requires a victim.
It is too slangy.
Tips
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a courtroom.
When Native Speakers Use It
In news or crime stories.
Cultural Insight
It is a heavy word.
Grammar Shortcut
Use 'commit' with murder.
Say It Right
Focus on the 'ur' sound.
Don't Make This Mistake
Don't use it for accidents.
Did You Know?
It shares roots with 'mortal'.
Study Smart
Read crime fiction.
Writing Tip
Use it sparingly.
Context Matters
Avoid in casual chat.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
MURDER: Many Unlawful Reasons Destroy Every Right.
Visual Association
A courtroom gavel.
Word Web
Challenge
Write three sentences using the word.
Word Origin
Old English
Original meaning: Secret killing
Cultural Context
Extremely sensitive; avoid in lighthearted conversation.
Used in news, law, and fiction.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At the police station
- We are investigating a murder
- He is a suspect
- We have evidence
In a courtroom
- The defendant is guilty
- Charged with murder
- The judge presided
Reading the news
- A brutal murder occurred
- The victim was identified
- Police are seeking leads
Writing a story
- The plot involves a murder
- The motive was greed
- A mysterious killer
Conversation Starters
"What do you think about crime shows?"
"Why do you think murder mysteries are so popular?"
"How does the law handle serious crimes?"
"Have you ever read a book about a murder?"
"What makes a good detective story?"
Journal Prompts
Write about why justice is important.
Describe a scene from a mystery novel.
Explain the difference between intent and accident.
How do police solve complex crimes?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsYes, it can be used as a verb (to murder).
All murders are homicides, but not all homicides are murders.
It is highly discouraged; it is a very serious topic.
It is intentional and planned.
MUR-der.
Yes, you can have multiple murders.
Murderous.
Police detectives.
Test Yourself
The police are looking for the ___.
The murderer is the person who commits the crime.
What is murder?
Murder is defined as an illegal killing.
Murder is a type of accident.
Murder requires intent, whereas accidents are unintentional.
Word
Meaning
These are common collocations.
Subject + Verb + Object.
Which is a synonym?
Homicide is a legal synonym.
Murder and manslaughter are the same.
They differ in intent and legal classification.
He was charged with ___ murder.
First-degree is the correct legal term.
Word
Meaning
Legal terminology.
The murder trial concluded.
Score: /10
Summary
Murder is the intentional and unlawful killing of a human being, a crime treated with the highest severity in law.
- Murder is an illegal, intentional killing.
- It is a very serious crime.
- It requires legal investigation.
- The word should be used with caution.
Memory Palace Trick
Visualize a courtroom.
When Native Speakers Use It
In news or crime stories.
Cultural Insight
It is a heavy word.
Grammar Shortcut
Use 'commit' with murder.
Example
The news reported a terrible murder in the city center last night.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
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