English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com

genocide

The origin and history of genocide.

Etymology

Coined in 1943-44 by lawyer Raphael Lemkin from Greek génos ("race, kind") plus Latin -cide ("killing"), originally in reference to the Armenian genocide and the Holocaust.

Origin: Latin · First attested 1943

Class of 1943

genocide first entered the language around 1943. Other words from the same year:

See the full Class of 1943 →
← Back to the full definition of genocide
Etymology: FreeDict original editorial.