sororicide

Sororicide is the act of killing one's sister. The word combines soror-, Latin for sister, with -cide, from caedere meaning to kill. It is used to describe the murder of a female sibling and is part of a broader set of homicide terms that specify familial relationships, such as fratricide (the killing of a brother).

In criminology and law, sororicide refers to homicide where the victim is a sister. The frequency is relatively low compared with other intra-family killings. Motives vary and may include intimate or family conflict, financial disputes, abuse, jealousy, or mental illness. Perpetrators can be male or female, and legal handling usually treats sororicide as murder or homicide, with charges and sentencing shaped by factors such as premeditation, intent, and the presence of domestic violence.

Statistics on sororicide are often subsumed under broader data on familial or siblicidal violence, making precise prevalence difficult to assess across jurisdictions. For researchers, clear documentation of the victim–perpetrator relationship and context is essential for analysis.

In literature and culture, acts involving sisters may appear as motifs reflecting rivalry, revenge, or violation of kinship norms. While rare in modern crime compared with other homicide categories, sororicide is a recognized term in criminology and legal discussions.