What does "killer" mean?
One who or that which kills.
Killer
/ˈkɪlɚ/ adj, noun, slang
adj, noun, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: One who or that which kills.
- Grammar: killer is listed as adj, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: slayer, airplane, alarm, apache.
- Useful contrasts: awful, benign, harmless.
- Usage evidence: This weed killer does not harm human beings.
How to use "killer"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "killer" 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 "killer" 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 "killer" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "killer" 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 "killer" is acting as adj, noun, slang 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 "slayer" 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.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "killer", 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 One who or that which kills. countable, uncountable
"There’s a killer on the loose."
- 2 predatory black-and-white toothed whale with large dorsal fin; common in cold seas wordnet
- 3 That which causes stress or is extremely difficult, especially that which may cause failure at a task. countable, figuratively, uncountable
"That test was a killer."
- 4 a difficulty that is hard to deal with wordnet
- 5 Something that is so far ahead of its competition that it effectively kills off that competition. countable, figuratively, uncountable
"Digital streaming platforms are CD killers."
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 someone who causes the death of a person or animal wordnet
- 7 A remarkably impressive person or thing. countable, figuratively, uncountable
"Picture perfect, you don't need no filter / Gorgeous, make 'em drop dead, you're a killer"
- 8 the causal agent resulting in death wordnet
- 9 A knockout form of darts or pool involving several players. uncountable
- 10 Ellipsis of killer whale. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable
"There is, however, one species of whale that habitually preys upon other warm-blooded animals—the killer whale. Really a large dolphin, the killer was classified by Linnaeus as Orcinus orca, and by Cope as Grampus rectipinna."
- 11 A club used for killing fish. countable, uncountable
- 12 A particularly heavy type of handstamp, or portion of one, often obscuring a large part of the postage stamp. countable, uncountable
- 13 Synonym of virama (“kind of diacritical mark”). countable, uncountable
"In the course of its adaptation to non-Indo-Aryan languages, the Burmese script has acquired some features that distinguish it from other Indic scripts. The killer, or virama, participates in some common constructions that would be clumsy to handle the way they would be in the other Indic scripts, so the control function of the virama is separated from the diacritic function of the killer. The virama, 0F4D is used to form conjunct consonants, while the killer, 0F52, is a simple diacritic and has no effect on character shaping. The killer is also combined with the VOWEL SIGN O (0F4B) to form the low level tone vowel “o.” When used this way, this symbol is known as hyei hto, or “thrust forward.”"
Adjective
- 1 Excellent, very good, cool. slang
"killer feature"
- 2 Causing death, destruction, or obliteration.
"killer bee"
- 3 Distressing, uncomfortable.
"I had a killer headache this morning."
Example
"This weed killer does not harm human beings."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "killer"?
Common synonyms include: slayer, airplane, alarm, apache, assassin, assassin.
How do you use "killer" in a sentence?
This weed killer does not harm human beings.
How do you pronounce "killer"?
Pronounced /ˈkɪlɚ/.
Etymology
From Middle English killer, kyller. By surface analysis, kill + -er.