genocide

Everyday

1. Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people because they belong to a particular nation, ethnic group, race or religion, with the aim of destroying that group. tree →
2. (law) Genocide is an international crime; courts decide whether events count as genocide. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons, the Holocaust, when the Nazis murdered about six million Jews and others, is the best-known genocide; children also learn about Rwanda and the Holodomor famine in Ukraine, which Ukraine and many countries recognise as genocide. In news, some events are called genocide by some governments and disputed by others; it is a serious legal word, and people should say who is making the claim.

Examples

• The Holocaust was a genocide. tree →
• Genocide is one of the worst crimes there is. tree →
• We remember victims of genocide on Holocaust Memorial Day. tree →
• The UN agreed a law against genocide after the Second World War. tree →
• Many countries recognise the Holodomor as a genocide. tree →
• A genocide took place in Rwanda. tree →
• Courts decide whether a crime is genocide. tree →

Note

Serious word: not for exaggeration or jokes. Mostly uncountable; «a genocide» for one event. From Greek «genos» (people, race) + Latin «-cide» (killing), as in «pesticide».