Hello, students! The word for a person who commits the terrible crime of murder is a murderer. Is there a different word for a woman who commits this crime? This guide explains the traditional term and why it is not often used today.
Murderer Opposite Gender
On This Page
Murderer vs. Murderess: A Clear Comparison
This table shows the traditional and modern terms.
| Term | Gender | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Murderer | Male / Gender-Neutral | A person who commits murder. Used for any gender in modern contexts. |
| Murderess | Female | A woman who commits murder. Now considered dated. |
What is a Murderer?
A murderer is a person who has illegally and intentionally killed another human being.
What is a Murderess?
A murderess is the feminine equivalent of a murderer. It specifically refers to a woman who has committed murder.
Modern Usage: A Gender-Neutral Term
Although "murderess" is a grammatically correct word, it is now considered archaic or old-fashioned. In legal, news, and everyday language, the word murderer is used as a gender-neutral term. This helps to focus on the crime itself, not on the gender of the perpetrator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Murderer Feminine Gender
The traditional feminine gender of 'murderer' is murderess. In modern usage, 'murderer' is gender-neutral.
Murderer Opposite Gender
The traditional opposite gender of a murderer is a murderess. Murderer is a male gender term and murderess is a female gender term.
Female equivalent of Murderer
The female equivalent of a murderer is a murderess.
Practice Exercises
Worksheet: Choose the Correct Term
Fill in the blanks with the traditional term: murderer or murderess.
- In the old detective novel, the villain was a cunning _______.
- The police arrested the man and charged him as the _______.
- The historical account described her as a ruthless _______.
- The court found the _______ guilty of the crime.
Discover More Feminine Genders
Curious about other Male/Female Genders? Dive into our collection!