Added 9 October 2026
killer
/ˈkɪlə/ noun
In Latin: homicīda, occīsor, interfector Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about killer at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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One who or that which kills.
There’s a killer on the loose.
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That which causes stress or is extremely difficult, especially that which may cause failure at a task.
That test was a killer.
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Something that is so far ahead of its competition that it effectively kills off that competition.
Digital streaming platforms are CD killers.
adjective
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Excellent, very good, cool.
killer feature
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Causing death, destruction, or obliteration.
killer bee
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Distressing, uncomfortable.
I had a killer headache this morning.
Origin
From Middle English killer, kyller. By surface analysis, kill + -er.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)