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noun B1 Intermediate Common

murderer

MUR-duh-ruh

Murderer (noun) means a person who has committed murder. Example: “The murderer was caught after fleeing to another city.”

noun
1
A person who has committed murder.
"The murderer was caught after fleeing to another city."
"Detectives spent years trying to track down the murderer."

How to Use Murderer

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomeone guilty of killing another person on purpose.

Common pairings
convicted murderer serial murderer suspected murderer

Word Forms

murderers plural

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The _____ was caught after fleeing to another city.

Etymology

From Middle English murderere, formed from murder plus the agent suffix -er.

Origin: Middle English

killer slayer assassin homicide perpetrator

Related Words

Rhymes for murderer

See all rhymes for murderer →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “murderer” mean?

The word “murderer” means a person who has committed murder. In plain terms, someone guilty of killing another person on purpose.

How do you pronounce “murderer”?

“Murderer” is pronounced MUR-duh-ruh (/ˈmɝdɚɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “murderer” in a sentence?

Here is “murderer” used in a sentence: “The murderer was caught after fleeing to another city.”

What part of speech is “murderer”?

“Murderer” is a noun.

Where does the word “murderer” come from?

The word “murderer” comes from Middle English. From Middle English murderere, formed from murder plus the agent suffix -er.

Is “murderer” a common word?

“Murderer” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

What is the difference between a murderer and a killer?

A murderer specifically refers to a person who has committed murder, an unlawful and intentional killing, while killer is a broader term that can include unlawful killings as well as accidental or non-criminal deaths. Every murderer is a killer, but not every killer is legally a murderer.

Is murderer used in formal legal contexts?

Yes, murderer is used in both everyday and legal contexts to describe someone who has committed the crime of murder, though formal legal documents may also use terms like "defendant" or "the accused" before conviction.

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