murderer
/ˈmɜːdərə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmɜːrdərər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmər-dər-ər/ (ame, mw)
murderer — noun
- murderersingular
- murderersplural
1. a person whom a court has found guilty of taking the life of another person on p
a person whom a court has found guilty of taking the life of another person on purpose and without any legal right to do so
The police arrested Lakan after finding evidence that he was the murderer.
arrest + murderer: police-news pattern
Jisoo's family waited years for the murderer of their daughter to face trial.
murderer of [victim]: specific victim pattern
A convicted murderer named Zayd escaped from the prison in Taichung last night.
The book tells the true story of a murderer who turned himself in twenty years after the crime.
- killer
broader term — includes those who kill by accident, in self-defence, or in war; not necessarily illegal or intentional
- assassin
a murderer who kills a well-known person for political reasons or payment; more specific and dramatic
- slayer
very formal or literary term; carries an archaic or epic tone, not used in everyday speech
- hitman
informal term for a murderer paid to kill someone, usually by a criminal organisation
文法句型
a/the murderer
murderer of [person killed]
convicted/alleged/suspected murderer
用法筆記
In formal legal contexts, the term is typically used only after a person has been found guilty in court; before conviction, terms such as 'suspect' or 'the accused' are preferred. In news reporting, however, 'murderer' is often used more broadly for someone believed to have committed murder.