Meaning & use
-cide
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Meanings
suffix
Used at the end of nouns to mean the act of killing a particular person or group, or the person who does the killing.
Grammar: Attaches to a noun or adjective root; the resulting word is usually a noun, often uncountable for the act and countable for the person.
Patterns
- genocide
- homicide
- patricide
- regicide
The history class discussed the genocide that took place during the war.
The police are investigating the homicide that occurred last night.
In ancient Rome, regicide was considered one of the worst crimes.
suffix
Used at the end of nouns to mean a substance or agent that kills a particular type of plant or animal.
Grammar: Attaches to a noun or adjective root; the resulting word is a countable noun naming the substance.
Patterns
- herbicide
- pesticide
- insecticide
- fungicide
Farmers use herbicide to control weeds in their fields.
This pesticide is effective against aphids but harmless to bees.
She sprayed insecticide on the plants to keep the bugs away.
Common combinations
- commit genocide
- The international court accused the leaders of committing genocide.
- mass homicide
- The city saw a rise in mass homicide last year.
- chemical pesticide
- Organic farms avoid chemical pesticides.
- weed killer
- He bought a strong weed killer for his garden.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- genocide noun
- The deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular ethnic group.
- herbicide noun
- A substance used to destroy unwanted plants.
- patricide noun
- The crime of killing one's father.
- insecticide noun
- A substance that kills insects.
Commonly confused: -cide or -cidal?
-cide vs -cidal
This is an adjective suffix meaning 'related to killing', as in 'homicidal'. It does not mean the act or the person itself.
Practice
Which word correctly completes the sentence: 'The farmer sprayed a chemical to kill the insects on his crops. He used an ______.'?
Choose one answer.
'Insecticide' means a substance that kills insects, fitting the context. 'Herbicide' kills plants, not insects; 'genocide' and 'patricide' refer to killing people, not pests.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “-cide”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.