What constitutes "homicide"?

Homicide is defined as the act of one person killing another person, encompassing various types of killings, both lawful and unlawful. This definition is broad enough to include different circumstances under which a death can occur but fundamentally focuses on the action of one individual causing the death of another. It forms the basis for further classifications of homicide such as murder, manslaughter, and justifiable homicide, all of which further analyze the intent, circumstances, and legality of the act.

The other choices provided dip into aspects surrounding acts that can lead to homicide but do not themselves define what homicide is. For instance, acts causing injury might relate to assaults or other violent crimes without necessarily leading to a death. An accidental death without intent describes situations that might qualify for manslaughter or accidents but do not encompass all forms of homicide. In the case of self-defense, while justifiable homicides can occur during such acts, they are specific scenarios that do not represent the entirety of the definition of homicide. Therefore, the foundational definition directly pointing to the act of killing reinforces why it is the correct choice.