French Conversation · Level 82
60 words
French word
meurtrier
Pronunciation
IPA/mœʁtʁije/
Meaning
- masculine nounmurderer
Example
Le meurtrier a été arrêté hier.
The murderer was arrested yesterday.
More examples
La police a retrouvé le meurtrier en fuite.
The police found the fugitive murderer.
Core concept
The individual at the center of a deliberate killing, marked as its responsible agent rather than merely its suspect.
Common phrases
le meurtrier présumé
the suspected murderer
un meurtrier en fuite
a fugitive murderer
Similar words
tueur: A person who kills people.
assassin: A person who targets and kills a specific person.
Definition in French
Individu responsable d'un homicide volontaire ; personne qui a ôté la vie à autrui de manière délibérée.
Word origin
French built meurtrier from meurtre and the agent-related suffix -ier, giving the word its sense of a person connected with the act.
Usage tips
- The phrase le meurtrier identifies a male person, while la meurtrière identifies a female person; meurtrier can also describe a deadly event or force.