noun / verb · neutral
murder
UK/ˈmɜːdə/US/ˈmɜːrdər/MUR·der
Band 4-5speakingtask2
The unlawful, intentional killing of a person.
Examples
“He was arrested on suspicion of murder.”
“She was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.”
“Murder is distinguished from manslaughter by intent.”
Band 8 sentence
“The defendant was convicted of murder after the prosecution proved intent beyond reasonable doubt.”
Collocations
- commit murder
- charged with murder
- convicted of murder
Word family
murder noun/verbmurderer nounmurderous adjective
Common mistakes
He killed him so he got charged with murder immediately.→He was charged with murder.
He was murder.→He was murdered. / He committed murder.
Say it for a higher band
5kill→6homicide→7+murder
Synonyms
homicide
Easily confused
kill
“He killed the intruder in self-defence.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Crime & Law
Learn it with its set