noun
Common
genocide
JEH-nuh-syd
Genocide (noun) means the deliberate, large-scale killing of people from a particular ethnic, national, or religious group with the intent to destroy it. Example: “The tribunal was set up to prosecute those responsible for the genocide.”
noun
1
The deliberate, large-scale killing of people from a particular ethnic, national, or religious group with the intent to destroy it.
"The tribunal was set up to prosecute those responsible for the genocide."
"The museum documents the history of the genocide in detail."
verb
1
To commit genocide against a group.
"The regime attempted to genocide the minority population."
How to use genocide
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe intentional mass killing of a people because of who they are.
When to use it
A serious legal and historical term — not used loosely or casually.
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Word forms
- Plural
- genocides
- Third person singular
- genocides
- Past tense
- genocided
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The tribunal was set up to prosecute those responsible for the _____.
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.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for genocide
See all rhymes for genocide →Frequently asked questions
What does “genocide” mean?
The word “genocide” means the deliberate, large-scale killing of people from a particular ethnic, national, or religious group with the intent to destroy it. In plain terms, the intentional mass killing of a people because of who they are.
How do you pronounce “genocide”?
“Genocide” is pronounced JEH-nuh-syd (/ˈd͡ʒɛnəsaɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “genocide” in a sentence?
Here is “genocide” used in a sentence: “The tribunal was set up to prosecute those responsible for the genocide.”
What part of speech is “genocide”?
Depending on how it is used, “genocide” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “genocide” come from?
The word “genocide” dates back to around 1943 and comes from Latin. 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.
Is “genocide” a common word?
“Genocide” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “genocide” have?
“Genocide” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the deliberate, large-scale killing of people from a particular ethnic, national, or religious group with the intent to destroy it.
What is the difference between genocide and ethnic cleansing?
Genocide is the deliberate killing of a group with the intent to destroy it in whole or in part, while ethnic cleansing refers to forcibly removing a group from a territory. The key distinction is the intent to destroy the group versus the intent to expel it.
What is the difference between genocide and homicide?
Homicide is the killing of one person by another, whereas genocide is the systematic, large-scale destruction of an entire ethnic, national, or religious group. Genocide is defined by its target being a whole group and by the intent to eliminate it.
What makes a killing count as genocide?
The defining element is intent: the deliberate aim to destroy a national, ethnic, or religious group, in whole or in part. Large-scale killing that lacks this specific intent to eliminate a group is generally classified as a different crime.
Is genocide a crime under international law?
Yes, genocide is recognized as a crime under international law and is prohibited by international treaty. It is regarded as one of the most serious crimes that a state or group can commit.
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