Killing

Killing is the act of one living thing causes the death of another. When a human being kills another human being, it is called murder, homicide, or manslaughter, depending on the intentions and actions of the person who committed it. That person is often referred to as a killer.

In human culture, killing is widely frowned upon, with it being seen as one of the most terrible acts one person can do. Human lives are relatively short, and is therefore considered by many to be sacred, which is why killing is viewed down upon by most of society.

When a person kills another person in general, it is referred to as homicide. This term is broadly used to describe one life ending another.

When someone kills another person with the intention of doing so, it is called murder. For it to be considered murder, personal intent must be determined, as well as planning that occured beforehand.

Manslaughter is a term used when the homicide that took place was accidental, and not planned. For example, a person who gets into a car crash that causes the death of another person is a case that would be classed as a homicide.

When a soldier kills another during war, it is called combat. When the state kills a convict sentenced to capital punishment, it is called execution. When someone kills a powerful, famous person, it is called assassination. When a person kills themself, it is suicide, or euthanasia if killed with medical help, where in some countries it is legal.

Sometimes, people kill others in order to eat them. This used to be very common in older human history but is not so much anymore. This act of eating humans is called cannibalism.

For the vast majority of the animal kingdom, killing is a natural part of life, with apex predators such as lions hunting and killing less-powerful animals such as deer, either for sport, food, or both.

Polar Bears are one of the only species on Earth that actively hunt down humans, as food in the frozen North Pole is rare to come by.

• Death
• Murder
• Suicide
• Manslaughter

The Simple English Wiktionary has a definition for: kill.