infanticide

noun

in·​fan·​ti·​cide in-ˈfan-tə-ˌsīd How to pronounce infanticide (audio)
1
: the killing of an infant
2
[Late Latin infanticida, from Latin infant-, infans + -i- + -cida -cide] : one who kills an infant
infanticidal adjective

Examples of infanticide in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
December 1998 The Post Register in eastern Idaho produced a series on child deaths that found a dearth of autopsies, including two cases of infanticide that were almost attributed to SIDS. Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 2 Dec. 2024 Certainly not Maria, a promising novelist and new mother, who is increasingly haunted by the threat of a monster: Herself, and her fears of committing infanticide. Jamie Lang, Variety, 18 Oct. 2024 Amid this bloodshed, however, researchers noticed a more peaceful resolution to familial upheaval: Adoptions of unrelated chicks by stepparents were just as common as infanticide. Byvirginia Morell, science.org, 6 May 2024 Chimpanzee mothers often remove themselves from the group to give birth, which protects their babies from the infanticides that are sadly frequent in this species. Susana Monsó, TIME, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for infanticide 

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin infanticidium, from Latin infant-, infans + -i- + -cidium -cide

First Known Use

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of infanticide was in 1611

Dictionary Entries Near infanticide

Cite this Entry

“Infanticide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infanticide. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

infanticide

noun
in·​fan·​ti·​cide in-ˈfant-ə-ˌsīd How to pronounce infanticide (audio)
1
: the killing of an infant
2
: one who kills an infant
infanticidal adjective

Legal Definition

infanticide

noun
in·​fan·​ti·​cide in-ˈfan-tə-ˌsīd How to pronounce infanticide (audio)
: the killing of a newly or recently born child

More from Merriam-Webster on infanticide

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