हत्या किंवा खून म्हणजे वैध कारणाशिवाय, विशेषतः पूर्वविचाराने दुसऱ्या मानवाला बेकायदेशीरपणे ठार करणे. विविध अधिकारक्षेत्रांनुसार खून आणि मनुष्यवधासारखे इतर बेकायदेशीर हत्याकांड यांमध्ये फरक असू शकतो. मनुष्यवध म्हणजे द्वेषाशिवाय केलेली हत्या असते, जी वाजवी चिथावणीने घडवून आणली जाते.

Murder is the unlawful killing of another human without justification or valid excuse committed with the necessary intention as defined by the law in a specific jurisdiction. This state of mind may, depending upon the jurisdiction, distinguish murder from other forms of unlawful homicide, such as manslaughter. Manslaughter is killing committed in the absence of malice, such as in the case of voluntary manslaughter brought about by reasonable provocation, or diminished capacity. Involuntary manslaughter, where it is recognized, is a killing that lacks all but the most attenuated guilty intent, recklessness.