systematic killing of a racial or cultural group
"The regime's policy of systematically exterminating an entire ethnic minority constituted a horrific act of genocide."
The systematic killing of substantial numbers of people on the basis of their ethnicity, religion, or nationality.
"The regime's campaign resulted in genocide, as it systematically killed thousands of civilians solely because of their ethnic background."
In plain English: Genocide is the deliberate killing of an entire group of people because of who they are.
"The international court investigated reports that the conflict had turned into genocide against civilians in the region."
Usage: Genocide refers specifically to the deliberate and systematic destruction of a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group, distinguishing it from mass murder that lacks this targeted intent. This term is often confused with crimes against humanity but requires proof of specific intent to destroy the entire group as such.
To commit genocide (against); to eliminate (a group of people) completely.
"The regime was accused of committing genocide against the ethnic minority by systematically eliminating every member of the population."
In plain English: To commit genocide means to intentionally destroy an entire group of people because of who they are.
"The regime was accused of trying to genocide an entire ethnic group through starvation and forced displacement."
Lawyer Raphael Lemkin coined the word "genocide" in 1943 or 1944 by combining Ancient Greek for "race or kind" with a Latin root meaning "killing." He created this term to describe systematic massacres of groups such as Armenians, Assyrians, and Jews.