18 USC § 1093 - Definitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s1093"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 1093 - Definitions"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "1093"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 50
chapter_name: "GENOCIDE"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "CRIMES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 100–606, § 2(a), Nov. 4, 1988, 102 Stat. 3046.)"
---


# § 1093. Definitions

As used in this chapter—

**(1)** the term “children” means the plural and means individuals who have not attained the age of eighteen years;

**(2)** the term “ethnic group” means a set of individuals whose identity as such is distinctive in terms of common cultural traditions or heritage;

**(3)** the term “incites” means urges another to engage imminently in conduct in circumstances under which there is a substantial likelihood of imminently causing such conduct;

**(4)** the term “members” means the plural;

**(5)** the term “national group” means a set of individuals whose identity as such is distinctive in terms of nationality or national origins;

**(6)** the term “racial group” means a set of individuals whose identity as such is distinctive in terms of physical characteristics or biological descent;

**(7)** the term “religious group” means a set of individuals whose identity as such is distinctive in terms of common religious creed, beliefs, doctrines, practices, or rituals; and

**(8)** the term “substantial part” means a part of a group of such numerical significance that the destruction or loss of that part would cause the destruction of the group as a viable entity within the nation of which such group is a part.

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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 100–606, § 2(a), Nov. 4, 1988, 102 Stat. 3046.)