What does "genocide" mean?
The systematic and deliberate destruction of a group of people; typically by killing substantial numbers of them, on the basis of their ethnicity, religion, or nationality.
Genocide
/ˈd͡ʒɛnəsaɪd/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The systematic and deliberate destruction of a group of people; typically by killing substantial numbers of them, on the basis of their ethnicity, religion, or nationality.
- Grammar: genocide is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: aborticide, atrocity, atrocity, bloodbath.
- Useful contrasts: harmony, peace, protection.
- Usage evidence: The victims of the genocide were buried in mass graves spread over 25 square kilometers.
How to use "genocide"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "genocide" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "genocide" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "genocide" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "genocide" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "genocide" is acting as noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "aborticide" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "genocide", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The systematic and deliberate destruction of a group of people; typically by killing substantial numbers of them, on the basis of their ethnicity, religion, or nationality. countable, uncountable
"A genocide will always be followed by the denial that it ever happened."
- 2 systematic killing of a racial or cultural group wordnet
- 3 The systematic killing of substantial numbers of people on other grounds. broadly, countable, uncountable
- 4 The systematic suppression of ideas or practices on the basis of cultural or ethnic origin; culturicide. broadly, countable, uncountable
"Native Americans in the twentieth century are no longer a "vanishing race" or a silent minority. They have survived centuries of cultural genocide inflicted on them by non-Native Americans— both the well-meaning and the self-seeking— […]"
- 5 The elimination of an entire class of monsters by the player. countable, uncountable
"I used genocide in my first ascension, but have been genocideless ever since. Makes the game much more interesting, but then again, if one hasn't ascended yet, it will be interesting anyway."
Verb
- 1 To commit genocide (against); to eliminate (a group of people) completely. transitive
"Even though the Soviet constitution and that of the Ukrainian SSR contain provisions guaranteeing freedom of religion and other fundamental liberties, the Soviet government genocided the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in the 1930's …"
Antonyms
Example
"The victims of the genocide were buried in mass graves spread over 25 square kilometers."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "genocide"?
Common synonyms include: aborticide, atrocity, atrocity, bloodbath, bloodshed, breach.
How do you use "genocide" in a sentence?
The victims of the genocide were buried in mass graves spread over 25 square kilometers.
How do you pronounce "genocide"?
Pronounced /ˈd͡ʒɛnəsaɪd/.
Etymology
Coined by lawyer of Polish-Jewish descent Raphael Lemkin in 1943 or 1944 in reference to the Armenian Genocide (then known by other names; see: Terminology of the Armenian genocide), massacres of Assyrians (such as the Simele massacre and Seyfo) and the Jewish Holocaust. From the stem of Ancient Greek γένος (génos, “race, kind”) (cognate with Latin gēns (“tribe, clan”), whence genus), corresponding to geno- + -cide (“killing, killer”). Piecewise doublet of gendercide. Compare genticide.