fratricide
noun
frat·ri·cide ˈfra-trə-ˌsīd 
1
: one that murders or kills his or her own brother or sister or an individual (such as a countryman) having a relationship like that of a brother or sister
2
: the act of a fratricide
fratricidal
ˌfra-trə-ˈsī-dᵊl
adjective 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The Square and indulges in casual fratricide and a spot of naked, fiery volcano-side wrestling in the recent Viking epic The Northman. 
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 1 Sep. 2022 The maps are triggering political fratricide – pitting sitting New York House Democrats against one another. Fox News, 23 May 2022 Fleeing for his life, the boy vows revenge as well as to liberate his mother (Nicole Kidman), with dad having helpfully given him a pep talk about the importance of vengeance even before this act of fratricide cemented Amleth's destiny. Brian Lowry, CNN, 21 Apr. 2022 Did the law of fratricide exist in the Ottoman Empire? Alice Burton, Vulture, 23 Nov. 2021 At the time of the fratricide in Absalom, Absalom!, the two brothers have just returned from fighting for the Confederacy, though their experiences in battle are never related in any detail. Benjamin Nugent, Harper's Magazine, 27 Apr. 2021 Republican insiders acknowledge the trend is ominous and worry GOP fratricide could exacerbate it. David M. Drucker, Washington Examiner, 22 Jan. 2021 Or, for that matter, stories of mass Jewish fratricide. David Harsanyi, National Review, 9 Dec. 2020 The horror of fratricide is merely the price of admission to the family drama Penn here relates. Steve Donoghue, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Dec. 2020 See More
Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 1 Sep. 2022 The maps are triggering political fratricide – pitting sitting New York House Democrats against one another. Fox News, 23 May 2022 Fleeing for his life, the boy vows revenge as well as to liberate his mother (Nicole Kidman), with dad having helpfully given him a pep talk about the importance of vengeance even before this act of fratricide cemented Amleth's destiny. Brian Lowry, CNN, 21 Apr. 2022 Did the law of fratricide exist in the Ottoman Empire? Alice Burton, Vulture, 23 Nov. 2021 At the time of the fratricide in Absalom, Absalom!, the two brothers have just returned from fighting for the Confederacy, though their experiences in battle are never related in any detail. Benjamin Nugent, Harper's Magazine, 27 Apr. 2021 Republican insiders acknowledge the trend is ominous and worry GOP fratricide could exacerbate it. David M. Drucker, Washington Examiner, 22 Jan. 2021 Or, for that matter, stories of mass Jewish fratricide. David Harsanyi, National Review, 9 Dec. 2020 The horror of fratricide is merely the price of admission to the family drama Penn here relates. Steve Donoghue, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Dec. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
in sense 1, from Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin fratricida, from fratr-, frater brother + -cida -cide; in sense 2, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French, from Latin fratricidium, from fratr-, frater + -cidium -cide
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Legal Definition
fratricide
noun
frat·ri·cide ˈfra-trə-ˌsīd
1
: one that murders or kills his or her own brother or sister or an individual (as a countryman) having a relationship like that of a brother or sister
2
: the act of a fratricide
fratricides
noun
as in matricides
the crime of purposefully ending the life of your own brother or sister Synonyms & Similar Words
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