Meaning & use

infanticide

noun·Advanced

The illegal killing of a baby, especially one less than a year old.

See it in a sentence

The ancient historian described infanticide as a grim but recorded practice in several early societies.

The novel's darkest chapter deals with a mother charged with infanticide after losing her mind.

A note on using this word

Infanticide is a serious legal and ethical term; use it carefully, as it names a specific and severe crime rather than neglect in general.

Words with a similar meaning

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