fratricide
noun
frat·ri·cide
| \ ˈfra-trə-ˌsīd
\
\
Definition of fratricide
1
: one that murders or kills his or her own brother or sister or an individual (such as a countryman) having a relationship like that of a brother or sister
2
: the act of a fratricide
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Other Words from fratricide
fratricidal
\ ˌfra-trə-ˈsī-dᵊl
\
adjective
\
adjective
Examples of fratricide in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The wolf symbolized the republic’s propensity for fratricide: our own Romulus and Remus saga, the high point of which culminated in the Civil War and its aftermath. — Wendell Nii Laryea Adjetey, Twin Cities, "Wendell Nii Laryea Adjetey: Why now is the moment to atone for 400 years of racism," 28 July 2019 Noel’s departure from the band seemed to be musical fratricide. — D.i., The Economist, "The life and times of Liam Gallagher," 26 June 2019 Orlando likewise finds his way there, in flight from his own fratricide-minded brother, Oliver (Aubrey Deeker Hernandez). — James Hebert, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Review: ‘As You Like It’ zips along with elegance and wit in Old Globe’s Shakespeare Festival opener," 23 June 2019 The hour-long score proved rich material for this unusual semistaged performance, lending physical form to this gnarly tale of fratricide and supernatural revenge. — Georgia Rowe, The Mercury News, "San Francisco Symphony breathes vivid life into Mahler’s dark fairy tale," 14 Jan. 2017 Bird explained to Vancouver news outlet CTV that a fratricide is possible should the eaglets get hungry. — National Geographic, "Hawk Adopted by Bald Eagles Isn’t Out of the Woods Yet," 13 June 2017 Yet Western culture has been haunted for millennia by the wretched House of Atreus – cursed through the generations with fratricide, patricide, filicide, mariticide, and matricide. — Steven G. Kellman, The Christian Science Monitor, "'House of Names' is Colm TóibÃn's take on the House of Atreus," 9 June 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fratricide.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for fratricide
fratricide
noun
English Language Learners Definition of fratricide
: the crime of murdering your own brother or sister
also
: a person who has committed this crime
See the full definition for fratricide in the English Language Learners Dictionary
fratricide
noun
frat·ri·cide
| \ ˈfra-trə-ˌsīd
\
\
Legal Definition of fratricide
1
: one that murders or kills his or her own brother or sister or an individual (as a countryman) having a relationship like that of a brother or sister
2
: the act of a fratricide
Other Words from fratricide
fratricidal
\ ˌfra-trə-ˈsīd-ᵊl
\
adjective
\
adjective
Keep scrolling for more