matricide
noun
ma·tri·cide
ˈma-trə-ˌsīd 
ˈmā-
ˈmā-
1
[Latin matricidium, from matr- + -cidium -cide]
: murder of a mother by her child
2
[Latin matricida, from matr- + -cida -cide]
: one who commits matricide
Examples of matricide in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At the center of the installation is the myth of Orestes, which hinges on the justification of matricide.
—
Eana Kim, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
According to a new study published in Current Biology on Monday, Nov. 17, several species of parasitic ants have evolved a way to manipulate worker ants into killing their own queen — a form of matricide that biologists say has never been observed in this exact form.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
But while such stories include plenty of violence, the killing of a mother in folklore — let alone children being tricked into matricide — is almost nonexistent, said Dr. Maria Tatar, a professor emerita of folklore and mythology at Harvard University who was not involved in the new study.
—CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025
This provides favorable conditions that preference the evolution of induced matricide.
—New Atlas, 17 Nov. 2025
In the illuminated texts of the medieval and early Renaissance periods, artists decided to rachet up the horrors of Agrippina’s matricide.
—Diana Arterian
june 16, Literary Hub, 16 June 2025
Several generate physical action that, besides wickedness, is driven by rage — fights, accidents, assaults, pederasty, filicide, matricide.
—Stuart Dybek, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2025
One thing that struck most reporters was her apparent lack of remorse or grief over this rare crime — matricide, the murder of a mother by her biological child.
—Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, 28 Dec. 2024
Easily the nation’s most notable parolee, Gypsy Rose Blanchard, 32, was released Dec. 28 having served eight years of her 10-year sentence for matricide.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 13 Jan. 2024
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Eana Kim, ARTnews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
According to a new study published in Current Biology on Monday, Nov. 17, several species of parasitic ants have evolved a way to manipulate worker ants into killing their own queen — a form of matricide that biologists say has never been observed in this exact form.
—Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
But while such stories include plenty of violence, the killing of a mother in folklore — let alone children being tricked into matricide — is almost nonexistent, said Dr. Maria Tatar, a professor emerita of folklore and mythology at Harvard University who was not involved in the new study.
—CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025
This provides favorable conditions that preference the evolution of induced matricide.
—New Atlas, 17 Nov. 2025
In the illuminated texts of the medieval and early Renaissance periods, artists decided to rachet up the horrors of Agrippina’s matricide.
—Diana Arterian
june 16, Literary Hub, 16 June 2025
Several generate physical action that, besides wickedness, is driven by rage — fights, accidents, assaults, pederasty, filicide, matricide.
—Stuart Dybek, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2025
One thing that struck most reporters was her apparent lack of remorse or grief over this rare crime — matricide, the murder of a mother by her biological child.
—Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, 28 Dec. 2024
Easily the nation’s most notable parolee, Gypsy Rose Blanchard, 32, was released Dec. 28 having served eight years of her 10-year sentence for matricide.
—Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 13 Jan. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Matricide.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/matricide. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
matricide
noun
ma·tri·cide
ˈma-trə-ˌsīd
ˈmā-
ˈmā-
1
: murder of a mother by her child
2
: one that murders his or her mother
Medical Definition
matricide
noun
ma·tri·cide
ˈma-trə-ˌsīd
ˈmā-
ˈmā-
1
: murder of a mother by her son or daughter
2
: one that murders his or her mother
Legal Definition
matricide
noun
mat·ri·cide
ˈma-trə-ˌsīd
1
: the murder of a mother by her son or daughter
2
[Latin matricida, from matr- + -cida killer]
: a person who murders his or her mother
Etymology
Latin matricidium, from matr-, mater mother + -cidium killing
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