Etymology From the stem of Ancient Greek γένος (génos, “race, kind”) (cognate with Latin gēns (“tribe, clan”), whence genus), corresponding to geno- + -cide (“killing”). Piecewise doublet of gendercide. Compare genticide. Coined by Polish Jewish lawyer Raphael Lemkin in 1943 or 1944 in reference to the Armenian Genocide (then known by other names; for more information, see Terminology of the Armenian genocide on Wikipedia), massacres of Assyrians (such as the Simele massacre and Seyfo) and the Jewish Holocaust.
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The systematic and deliberate destruction of a group of people; typically by killing substantial numbers of them, on the basis of their ethnicity, religion, nationality, or similar grounds.
A genocide will always be followed by the denial that it ever happened.
For the German occupying authorities war thus appears to offer the most appropriate occasion for carrying out their policy of genocide.1944 November 23, “Analysis of Government - Proposals for Redress” (chapter chapter 9), in Axis Rule in Occupied Europe: Laws of Occupation, page 79:
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Shaddam IV: I want fifty legion of Sardaukar on Arrakis at once! Subordinate: Fifty legions? That's our entire reserves as well. Shaddam IV: This is genocide: the deliberate and systematic destruction of all life on Arrakis!1984, 1:49:22 from the start, in Dune (science fiction), spoken by Shaddam IV, →OCLC:
Though most of the cases here cover European encounters with non-Europeans, it is not the intention of the book to give the impression that genocide is a function of European colonialism and imperialism alone.2008 June 1, A. Dirk Moses, “Preface”, in Empire, Colony, Genocide: Conquest, Occupation, and Subaltern Resistance in World History, Berghahn Books, →ISBN, page x:
Incorporating a global-comparative perspective on the genocides of the last half millennium has enabled important advances in the understanding of events central to the genocide studies field – such as the process of Ottoman imperial dissolution, reciprocal genocidal killing (during the “Unweaving” in the Balkans), and complex international jockeying that factored into the massive anti-Christian slaughters in Anatolia in 1915 and thereafter.2011, Adam Jones, Genocide: A Comprehensive Introduction, 2nd edition, Routledge, →ISBN, page 65:
A genocide denier is an apologist for the next genocide. […] Mr. Handke is the Bob Dylan of genocide apologists.2019 October 15, Aleksandar Hemon, “‘The Bob Dylan of Genocide Apologists’”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 05 Apr 2020:
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Broadly The systematic suppression of ideas or practices on the basis of cultural or ethnic origin; culturicide.
linguistic genocide
Native Americans in the twentieth century are no longer a "vanishing race" or a silent minority. They have survived centuries of cultural genocide inflicted on them by non-Native Americans— both the well-meaning and the self-seeking— […]1986, James Stuart Olson, Raymond Wilson, Native Americans in the Twentieth Century, →ISBN:
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Video games The elimination of an entire class of monsters by the player in roguelikes.
I used genocide in my first ascension, but have been genocideless ever since. Makes the game much more interesting, but then again, if one hasn't ascended yet, it will be interesting anyway.2000, Kimmo Kasila, “Arch lich at Minetown bones, Help!”, in rec.games.roguelike.nethack (Usenet):
What an Extinctionist tries to do is completely eliminate as many kinds of monsters from the game as possible, either through genocide if it's available, or from just depleting all the kinds of monsters that can be produced.2020, John Harris, Exploring Roguelike Games, CRC Press, →ISBN:
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The three main playstyles are neutral (the player kills some, but not all monsters), pacifist (all monsters are spared) and genocide (all monsters are eliminated).2022 May 29, Gabriel Elvery, “Undertale’s Loveable Monsters: Investigating Parasocial Relationships with Non-Player Characters”, in Games and Culture, volume 18, number 4, page 477:
Etymology From the stem of Ancient Greek γένος (génos, “race, kind”) (cognate with Latin gēns (“tribe, clan”), whence genus), corresponding to geno- + -cide (“killing”). Piecewise doublet of gendercide. Compare genticide. Coined by Polish Jewish lawyer Raphael Lemkin in 1943 or 1944 in reference to the Armenian Genocide (then known by other names; for more information, see Terminology of the Armenian genocide on Wikipedia), massacres of Assyrians (such as the Simele massacre and Seyfo) and the Jewish Holocaust.
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To commit genocide (against); to eliminate (a group of people) completely.
Even though the Soviet constitution and that of the Ukrainian SSR contain provisions guaranteeing freedom of religion and other fundamental liberties, the Soviet government genocided the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in the 1930's […]1986-06-17, Oversight of the Board for International Broadcasting: hearing before the Subcommittee on International Operations of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, volume 4, House of Representatives, Ninety-Ninth Congress, second session, page 145:
A clue appears in the Nazis finding the Gypsies dirty and disorderly (for not only Jews were genocided).2006, Get 'Em All! Kill 'Em!: Genocide, Terrorism, Righteous Communities, page 8:
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You just know it makes much more sense to encourage brutal governments to buy our WMD technology than to get them to put food in the empty bellies of their people or quit genociding the populace.2007, War on Truth: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Invasion of Iraq, page 66:
It is unlikely that Sulla succeeded in genociding the Samnites, since their mountains offered many refuges, but in subsequent centuries the Samnites disappeared, being absorbed into the general population of Italy.2016, Conflict in Ancient Greece and Rome: The Definitive Political, Social, and Military Encyclopedia, page 1193: