這些單詞均可用于指殺害自己的親人的行為。其中，parricide 是指殺害自己的近親屬， 特指殺害自己的親父或親母（the act of killing a close relative, esp. a parent)[1](注意的是在有些法律詞典上該單詞的定義只是“殺父罪”[2]，Black's Law Dictionary 第6版上的定義也如此[3]，只是在第7版時才做了修正）。parenticide 是指謀殺自己的生父或生母的行為（the act of murdering one's parent)[4]。而 patricide 則僅指殺害自己的父親（act of killing one's own father)[5] 。matricide則是指殺害母親的犯罪行為 (act of killing one's own mother)[6] 。

[1] Cf. Bryan A. Gamer, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at p. 1141 , West Group (1999). “ The act of murdering his or her mother or father ”，Cf. Linda Picard Wood, J. D.，Merriam Webster's Dictionary of Law, at p. 96 Merriam-Webster, Incorporated (1996).

[2]“The murder of a father. ”Cf. Daphne Dukelow, The Dictionary of Canadian Law, at p. 747, Thomson Professional Publishing Canada (1991).

[3]“The crime of killing one's father. ”Cf. The Publisher's Editorial Staff, Black's Law Dictionary, abridged 6th edition, at p. 771, West Publishing Co. (1991 ).

[4] Cf. Bryan A. Gamer, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th edition, at p. 1138, West Croup (1999).

[5] Id. at p. 1149.

[6] Id. at p. 992.