Urge Oxford & Cambridge to Remove ‘Committed Suicide’ from Their Print Dictionaries

Summary :

Words carry weight and shape how we understand sensitive issues. The phrase “committed suicide” is outdated and harmful, rooted in a time when suicide was treated as a crime. Today, we recognise that language should reflect compassion, accuracy, and dignity.

While both the Oxford and Cambridge dictionaries have updated their online editions to remove the term, their print editions continue to use it. We urge Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press to update their print editions with neutral and compassionate alternatives such as “died by suicide” or “took their own life.

Updating these print editions will not only ensure consistency but also help reduce stigma, encourage open conversation, and honour the lived experiences of those affected.

Why This Matters:

In the UK, suicide was decriminalised in 1961, yet our language has not kept pace. The term “committed suicide” implies illegality or moral wrongdoing, carrying a stigma that discourages open conversations and prevents people from seeking help.

Health organisations worldwide, including the World Health Organisation, Samaritans, and Mind, recommend neutral alternatives like “died by suicide” that avoid judgment and encourage compassion.

What We Are Asking For:

We request that both Oxford and Cambridge University Press:

- Update their print editions to remove “committed suicide” as the primary phrasing.

- Flag the term as outdated, stigmatising, and historically rooted in criminalisation.

- Replace it with modern, respectful language such as “died by suicide” or “took their own life.”

About SoBS:

SoBS is committed to improving how society talks about mental health. We believe language shapes understanding, and changing harmful words can change lives.