MEANING
A person who murders multiple victims in separate incidents over time.
Use it for
Linked murders across time; repeated predation; evidence revealing a continuing offenderBuild the serial pattern through separate events rather than merely a high death toll.
Words that belong together
- suspected serial killer
- identify a serial killer
- serial killer's pattern
On the page
The detective suspected a serial killer when the third case matched the first.
No witness had seen the serial killer's face.
The dossier linked separate murders to one serial killer.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- serial killer
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Usage notes
Primary category: horror. An established lexical compound; separate incidents distinguish the concept from a single mass killing. Definitions vary on numerical thresholds, so avoid an unnecessary fixed number. Noun plural: serial killers.
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