murderess

[ mur-der-is ]

noun

1. a woman who commits murder.

Gender Note

See -ess.

Word History and Origins

Origin of murderess¹

1350–1400; Middle English moerdrice, morderes; murder, -ess

Example Sentences

In this eerie, rather primitive context, its easy to surmise that the murderess is a witch.

From New York Times

Moore plays Ann Woodward, a possible murderess whose story Capote tells here at a dinner table early in the first episode and which makes up a sizable chunk of “La Côte Basque.”

From Los Angeles Times

As far as Roxie is concerned, murderesses row isn’t much different from tryouts in the sticks.

From Los Angeles Times

This week’s theme is “strong independent females,” featuring a novel about a madwoman and a true-crime account of a mob murderess.

From New York Times

Other 19th-century abortionist characters proliferated, variously characterized as "murderess," "hag," "she-devil" and "the instrument of the very vilest crime known in the annals of hell."

From Salon