murderer
6 synonyms for murderer, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A person who has committed murder.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use murderer
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
convicted murderer
serial murderer
suspected murderer
Etymology
From Middle English murderere, formed from murder plus the agent suffix -er.
Full origin of 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.
