Find English Teachers
Saleh
what is the difference between Murder and Killer
what is the difference between Murderer and Killer
Sep 5, 2018 3:08 PM
Answers · 8
3
Let's start with the definition of "murder" as a verb: "to kill (someone) unlawfully and with premeditation."
Your question should probably be "what is the difference between a murderer and a killer?". A murderer (noun) is someone who murders (verb) or commits a murder (noun). A killer (noun) is a someone or something who kills (verb).
Note that a killer can be a thing (such as a disease or natural phenomenon such as a storm or earthquake). A murderer is almost always a human because only humans can kill with evil intent.
September 5, 2018
3
In real-life usage, there is overlap.
According to strict use of the precise definitions, "to kill" is a broad term meaning to take life, while "to murder" is a legal term meaning to take life intentionally and illegally.
Thus, an executioner who kills a criminal who has received a death sentence is a killer, but not a murderer. The executioner is acting legally.
A soldier who kills another soldier in a war is a killer, but not a murderer. The soldier is acting legally.
A person who kills another person by accident, or though carelessness, might not be a murderer. He might be guilty of some lesser offense like "manslaughter" or "negligent homicide."
September 5, 2018
1
All murderers are killers but not all killers are murderers.
September 6, 2018
Still haven’t found your answers?
Write down your questions and let the native speakers help you!
Saleh
Language Skills
Arabic, Arabic (Egyptian), Arabic (Levantine), Arabic (Maghrebi), Arabic (Modern Standard), English, Spanish
Learning Language
English, Spanish
Articles You May Also Like

The Power of Storytelling in Business Communication
40 likes · 9 Comments

Back-to-School English: 15 Must-Know Phrases for the Classroom
28 likes · 6 Comments

Ten Tourist towns in Portugal that nobody remembers
56 likes · 23 Comments
More articles